Manila gives ground to rebels

Manila gives ground to rebels

MANILA (AFP): Philippines officials on Tuesday dangled the
prospect of expanded self-rule to minority Muslims in the
Mindanao region as Manila got ready for peace talks with Islamic
separatists after a deadly outbreak of fighting in the south.

"The government can give them substantial autonomy" within the
bounds of the constitution, on top of the limited self-rule
granted to another Muslim separatist guerrilla group which made
peace with Manila in 1996, National Security Adviser Alexander
Aguirre said.

Any agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF),
which will hold talks with the government on Wednesday, "could
jibe or reinforce" the 1996 pact with the Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF), "so long as these do not contravene our
negotiated settlement with the MNLF."

The 1996 pact created a special council dominated by the MNLF,
which would channel development funds to four provinces that
agreed to become part of the autonomous region.