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December 03, 2003
Philippine Islamist rebels to give up on "peace" deal?

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has reportedly “given up hopes” of securing a peace deal with the Philippine government under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. From Reuters via ABS-CBN:
...Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman, told Reuters it would be almost impossible for both sides to sign a peace agreement before President Arroyo’s current term ends next June, just after the polls.

“Personally, even if President Arroyo returns to power after the elections, the peace process cannot be finished,” Kabalu told Reuters.

“Whether we like it or not, we have to wait for a new administration. The way I look at it, the government is not determined to resolve the issue within the president’s term.”

Kabalu said there were three issues delaying the resumption of formal peace talks, including the failure to deploy 25 foreign cease-fire observers in Mindanao, where the MILF and other rebel groups are based.

He said the government should also comply with an agreement to withdraw all criminal cases against MILF leaders and pull its troops out of Buliok, a marshy guerrilla enclave in Mindanao.

“If government cannot implement these minor agreements, what guarantee could we get that government can honor much larger political, social and economic commitments under a final peace agreement,” he said.
Posted by Willie Galang at December 3, 2003 03:16 PM | TrackBack
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