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'Backdoor talks' begin, but MILF wary of 'saboteurs'


MANILA, Philippines — The government has apparently began backdoor talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to restore confidence in the disrupted peace process. But an MILF official said a lasting political solution could remain elusive unless President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo musters the will to resist the country’s elite from “sabotaging" the collective quest for peace. "The Filipino oligarchs are responsible for scrapping the signing of the ancestral domain deal last August 5, 2008. President Arroyo is just a political lameduck who quivers and gives in to threat by her political enemies," said Khaled Musa, deputy chairman of the MILF committee on information. In a statement posted on the MILF website (www.luwaran.com), Musa said it was these “elites of Filipino society" who were responsible for the non-signing of the deal that infuriated some MILF commanders and consequently launched military attacks on government positions in Central Mindanao. He said these elites fear an “empowered Moro" and do not want them to become progressive like the Muslims in Malaysia. Musa expressed confidence that 97 percent of the Philippine population want peace to prevail in the southern Philippines, but the three percent who control the national economy will do everything to derail peace. He said the 3 percent are mainly the “capitalists, political dynasties and warlords, and some religious groups who have vast claims in the wealth of Mindanao especially in mining." They see the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) as a real threat to their claims and investments because it would empower the Moro people, he added. Even then, the statement said the rebel group’s leadership welcomed efforts by the government to revive the peace negotiation despite President Arroyo’s previous announcement of a shift to “dialogues with communities" in Mindanao instead of talks with groups such as the MILF. The statement said members of the MILF Peace Panel have met with former Ilocos Norte governor Chavit Singson, now an undersecretary on national security, and conveyed their concerns. It said the MILF negotiators who met with Singson on Oct. 6 in barangay Darapanan of Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao were MILF peace panel head Mohagher Iqbal, Prof. Michael Mastura, lawyer Lanang Ali, and Jun Mantawil. During the one-hour meeting, the MILF conveyed to Singson the following issues and concern: - The zero credibility of Arroyo with the MILF after the scrapping of the MOA-AD signing; - Conduct of negotiation as forum for real "problem solving" of the so-called Moro problem; and - The government to make the peace process as a national agenda; meaning, the government will adopt his policy together with all the agencies of government like Congress and even the judiciary. “Singson described his visit as "private" but promised to convey to President Arroyo the substance of that meeting with the MILF," said the statement. Malacaňang has not made any official announcement about the meeting, but Singson had earlier said such reopening contacts with the MILF was one of his priority concerns as new undersecretary for national security. Singson had objected to an “all-out war" approach being pushed by former President Joseph Estrada and some other politicians, saying war only punishes the millions of civilians. The MILF statement quoted one of those who met with Singson as saying the meeting was very “cordial, frank, and forthright," and “is the best way to deal with personalities like Singson who knows ‘violence.’" It also described Singson as “very decisive," citing his testimony against Estrada during his impeachment trial in 2000. Estrada, who declared an “all-out war" campaign against the MILF during his term, was ousted in a military-backed uprising in early 2001 as an offshoot of corruption charges Singson raised against his former friend. Estrada was charged with massive plunder and was subsequently convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan last year. However, President Arroyo granted him pardon even before he could serve time at the National Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa. - GMANews.TV
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