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Malaysia broker in RP-MILF peace talks defends his track record


KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A Malaysian official who has brokered peace talks between the Philippine government and Moro rebels for seven years defended his track record Thursday following calls by Manila to have him replaced. The Philippine government has not given a formal reason why it wants Othman Abdul Razak replaced, but officials have claimed previously that he is biased toward the rebels. Othman said he would leave it to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration to decide whether to retain him as the mediator in talks between the Philippine government and the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Malaysia has brokered the talks since they began in 1997. "It's not my call ... (but) what if my government appoints someone else, and the MILF is opposed to him, or for that matter, the (Philippine government) objected," Othman told The Associated Press. On Tuesday, the Philippine government's chief peace negotiator with the rebels said a request had been sent to Malaysia to replace Othman because Manila would have "difficulties" working with him. The rebels, however, objected to the government's demand and urged Malaysia to retain Othman "to ensure continuity and preserve the gains of the peace process." Malaysian Foreign Ministry officials who could comment on the talks were not immediately available for comment. The rebels have fought for decades for self-rule for minority Muslims in the southern Philippines. In September, their chief negotiator said they were no longer demanding independence and instead were seeking a status similar to a US state. Othman said if the Philippine government trusted Malaysia "to be the facilitating country, then they should also trust my government's judgment and choice." He stressed how much work he did to get the rebels to change their position on independence. "I manage to build the trust and continue to bridge the two sides," Othman said. "People get worked up on the details and forget major concessions." Talks collapsed in 2008 after the Supreme Court rejected a preliminary accord with the government of then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that would have expanded an existing Muslim autonomous region in the southern Philippines. After President Benigno Aquino III took office in June, both sides formed new peace panels and sought to resume talks, but no date has been set. — AP

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