MILF wants international guarantee before resuming peace talks

MANILA, Philippines — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) wants an "international guarantee" for any peace agreement before resuming talks with government, claiming it is still haunted by the row over the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) that led to the Supreme Court blocking it. "The debacle still haunts us," MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim said in an article posted on the MILF website (www.luwaran.net). Because of this "bitter experience," the MILF wants an international guarantee once the peace talks resume to ensure that both the government and the MILF will honor any agreements they forge. It said this condition was included in its official stand on the resumption of peace talks, as signed by Murad. On the other hand, the MILF also demanded a stop to military pursuit operations against three rogue commanders who staged attacks in Mindanao after the MOA-AD was blocked. But Murad said the MILF is open to resuming the 'collapsed' or stalled" peace negotiations with the Philippine government, in deference to the call of local and international communities. Murad added that the MILF's standing policy is that negotiation is the "most practical and civilized way of solving the age-old Moro problem and armed conflict in Mindanao." He also cited the need to stop the humanitarian crisis developing in Mindanao now, where more than 600,000 civilians were dsplaced from their homes and farmlands. Still, Murad stressed the debacle over the MOA-AD in Malaysia must not be repeated. It still wants it and the government to resolve the issue of the MOA-AD, which it views as a "done deal" rather than as "no deal" as some sectors would have it. Also, it wants the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to be allowed to discharge its duties and functions. Other issues contained in the official statement include: • The International Monitoring Team (IMT) will be allowed to do its job as contained in the IMT Term of Reference (TOR) including the investigation of all the violations of the ceasefire since July 1, 2008 up to the present. • The Armed Forces of the Philippines should immediately stop military offensives against the MILF, even in the guise of running after three "rogue commanders." This is to prevent the mass evacuation of civilians and the destruction to houses, farms, animals, and other property. Malaysia will stay as facilitator of the peace talks.- GMANews.TV