Govt, MILF to start informal talks in August

The respective peace panels of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have begun preparations for the resumption of the negotiations aimed at bringing lasting peace in conflict-torn areas in Mindanao.

Government peace panel chairman Rafael Seguis told GMANews.TV in a phone interview on Saturday that the two negotiating parties would start holding informal talks in August.

"We'll be holding informal talks to discuss when the exact date for the resumption of the peace talks and what the agenda would be," Seguis said.

He said the two parties have yet to look for a facilitator which would set the date for the GRP-MILF talks.

"Hindi pa bumabalik ang IMT [The IMT has yet to return]," Seguis said, referring to the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT), which used to facilitate the negotiations.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on Friday told reporters in Malacañang that the resumption of the talks would be pushed in accordance to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s vow to establish peace with the rebel group before her term ends on June 30, 2010. Part of her commitment to lasting peace in Mindanao by 2010 is her declaration of a suspension of military offensive (SOMO), which is expected to create a "more stable environment for the peace talks."

Ermita said the President expects that the SOMO would finally prompt the IMT to return to facilitating the peace talks and schedule the date for their resumption.

But the Armed Forces of the Philippines stressed that the SOMO will not stop security forces from running after certain MILF leaders. [See: SOMO won't stop pursuit of rogue MILF leaders - AFP]

GMANews.TV tried to reach Mohagher Iqbal, chief of the MILF peace panel, but was unable to get a response as of posting time.

Meanwhile, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu earlier said he has no knowledge of the exact date of the peace talks. "Hindi po dapat natin pangunahan ang peace panel (We should not preempt the decision of the peace panel)."

At the start of her term in 2001, Mrs. Arroyo requested then Malaysian Prime Minister Yang Berhormat Dr. Mahathir Muhammad to help the Philippine government in urging the MILF to return to the negotiating table. The rebel group backed out of an earlier peace process following the launching of an all-out war ordered by Mrs. Arroyo’s predecessor, ousted President Joseph Estrada. The Malaysian government heeded Mrs. Arroyo’s request and designated its IMT to step in.

But in November 2008, the Malaysian government chose not to extend its third party facilitation and monitoring duties in the GRP-MILF peace talks, following renewed clashes between MILF rebels and government troops last August.

The fighting stemmed from alleged attacks and taking over by rogue elements of the MILF of several villages in southern Mindanao provinces. Incidentally, the government is also scheduled to resume its peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). The scheduled resumption of GRP-NDFP would come a month after the Philippine government restored the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig), which prevents the arrest of members of the peace panel from both parties. The Jasig was suspended in September 2005 after peace talks between the negotiating parties did not prosper. - GMANews.TV