| KL, Jakarta willing to host MILF talks
By Manny B. Marinay and Julmunir Jannaral
MALAYSIA,
Indonesia and Brunei are willing to host the third-party talks between the Philippine
government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, according to an MILF official.
Eid Kabalu,
MILF spokesman, said the three countries, fellow members of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN), have sent feelers regarding their availability to host the peace
talks.
“This is
another big step,” Kabalu said. “We’re getting near the negotiating table.”
In Cotabato City,
the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) said it would help ensure the full
implementation of the 1996 peace agreement between the Philippines and the Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF).
Saudi Arabian
Ambassador Saleh Mohammad Al-Ghamdi said the OIC would coordinate fully with the
government and the MNLF for the implementation of the agreement.
Al-Ghambi is a
member of the OIC fact-finding mission now visiting Mindanao to assess the progress of the
implementation of the peace accord.
Political
issues
Meanwhile, Kabalu
said MILF chairman Hashim Salamat and vice chair for military affairs Al Haj Murad have
conferred with the 22-member OIC mission to discuss the “political issues affecting
the MILF.”
Kabalu said the
outcome of the meeting would be known in the next few days.
Kabalu said they
could only make suggestions as to where the venue for the dialogue will be. But
government will have the last say on the matter.
Negotiations
Defense Secretary
Orlando Mercado earlier said the government has acceded to the demand of the MILF to hold
the peace negotiations abroad.
He, however, said
that some details are still being ironed out.
The Defense chief
said the talks could take place before the end of the year.
Kabalu also said
the OIC has agreed “to accommodate the MILF” should the peace talks push
through.
By that, Kabalu
said the OIC would finance whatever expenses MILF would incur in the talks.
“That’s
part of our leaders’ agreement with them,” he said.
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