Philippines says rebels may accept autonomy offer<\/p>\n
MANILA (Reuters): The Philippines' biggest rebel group has
\nindicated it may consider a government offer of autonomy to end a
\n28-year-old separatist rebellion, a government official said on
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
The apparent breakthrough in talks between the government and
\nthe Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) came after another
\nIslamic rebel group freed a Malaysian hostage among 21 mostly
\nforeign captives being held in the jungles of southern Jolo
\nisland.<\/p>\n
Presidential press undersecretary Mike Toledo said the MILF
\nhad sent a government panel a draft of its reply to the offer of
\nautonomy for Muslim areas in the south of this mainly Roman
\nCatholic country.<\/p>\n
\"It would seem that they are already acceding to the position
\nthat any discussion on this will be based on a meaningful
\nautonomy within the ambit and within the mandate of the
\nPhilippine constitution,\" Toledo told reporters.<\/p>\n
He said the government and MILF would resume talks, which have
\nbeen going on for three years, on Monday and added: \"Hopefully,
\nan interim agreement is being drafted.\"<\/p>\n
Government negotiators have rejected the rebels' demand for an
\nindependent Islamic state and instead offered Muslims autonomy
\nthat respects Philippine territorial integrity.<\/p>\n
More than 120,000 people have died in the revolt which began
\nin 1972. The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), once the
\nPhilippines' biggest Muslim rebel group, signed a peace deal in
\n1996 accepting autonomy for four Muslim-dominated provinces.<\/p>\n
The MILF did not take part in the talks but launched separate
\nnegotiations with Manila in 1997. The talks have been marred by
\noutbreaks of fighting.<\/p>\n
Reports that the MILF was considering autonomy came just
\nbefore the June 27-29 annual meeting in Malaysia of the
\nOrganization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the world's leading
\nIslamic body. The MILF has applied for an observer status at the
\nmeeting in a bid to gain international recognition.<\/p>\n
Handed over<\/p>\n
Freed from 62 days' captivity by fundamentalist Abu Sayyaf
\nrebels, Malaysian forest ranger Zulkarnain Hashim urged his
\ncaptors to release the 20 other hostages.<\/p>\n
Close to tears, Hashim embraced waiting Malaysian diplomats at
\nthe presidential palace. He looked fit apart from a scorpion
\nbite.<\/p>\n
The Abu Sayyaf is also fighting for an independent Muslim
\nhomeland but has shunned talks with Manila.<\/p>\n
\"I would like to thank Allah... for his blessing to release me
\nand I hope as soon as possible that my friends, the 20 other
\nhostages, will also be freed,\" he said in halting English -- the
\nonly statement Philippine officials allowed him to make.<\/p>\n
Chief Philippine negotiator Roberto Aventajado said he
\nunderstood Hashim had been well treated. He and four other
\nMalaysian forest rangers held captive had been adept at dealing
\nwith scorpion bites, he added. \"They just poured hot water and
\nburned the poison with a cigarette.\"<\/p>\n
The 20 remaining hostages include eight Malaysians, three
\nGermans, two French nationals, two South Africans, two Finns, two
\nFilipinos and a Lebanese. The group was abducted from a Malaysian
\ndiving resort on April 23 and brought to Jolo, 960 km south of
\nManila.<\/p>\n
Aventajado said Hashim had told him his fellow Malaysian and
\nFilipino captives were in good shape. The other hostages were
\nbeing held separately\".<\/p>\n
Hashim's release was the first bright spot in the grim hostage
\nsaga which has embarrassed President Joseph Estrada's embattled
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Aventajado said no ransom was paid for Hashim's release.
\nOfficials have said the rebels want $1 million for each hostage.<\/p>",
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