MILF: Restart of talks depends on ground situation
By ROMER S. SARMIENTO
TODAY Correspondent
The MILF rebels, however, warned that skirmishes on the ground
would continue if the results of the March 27 and 28 exploratory talks in
Jesus Dureza, chief government negotiator with the MILF, said
that despite the commitment to resume the stalled peace talks forged last month
in
“There are so many things that need to be done before the
resumption of formal peace talks. There are the hostilities on the ground, the
return of evacuees, etc,” Dureza said.
“Before we resume the stalled formal peace negotiations, these
problems must be addressed in order to create an atmosphere conducive to the
continuation of talks,” he added.
Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman, agreed with Dureza, but said that
peace talks should be resumed only once the results of the
He warned that unless the agreement reached in
Late last month both parties agreed to “achieve a comprehensive,
just and lasting political settlement of the conflict in
They also agreed to “exercise mutual restraint to minimize, if
not put an end” to fighting in the south, and to improve an existing monitoring
mechanism on violations of a cease-fire accord signed in 2001.
Both parties would also “undertake appropriate steps to pave the
way for the resumption” of formal peace negotiations, a joint statement of the
two parties said.
“The parties reaffirm the provision on the granting of safety and
security guarantees to MILF leaders and members who are directly and
principally involved in the peace talks,” the statement said.
The government and the MILF rebels will also work hand in hand to
“facilitate the early return of evacuees” and the rehabilitation of areas
devastated by clashes over the past several weeks.
The military in February launched a major assault on a major MILF
encampment in
About 200 people were killed on both sides, most of them MILF
fighters, while tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced by the
fighting.
Dureza said efforts are now concentrated on the return of the
evacuees to their villages, as the armed confrontation between the military and
Moro rebels continue to take place.
He also disclosed that he is in constant contact with his
counterparts in the MILF to maintain the “renewed rapport” sparked by the
exploratory talks.