MILF signs formal cease-fire pact with RP govt
MILF signs formal cease-fire pact with RP govt
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (Agencies): The largest Philippine Moro separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), signed a formal cease-fire pact here Tuesday with Manila.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar at the Putrajaya government administrative center.
The MILF also signed a unity pact with a smaller separatist group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), to forge peace in the impoverished southern Philippines.
The deal, with the MILF, leaves Philippine President Arroyo's government fighting only one Muslim separatist foe - the extremist Abu Sayyaf kidnap gang, which is holding dozens of hostages, including at least two Americans. She has refused to negotiate with them.
Jesus Dureza, the chief government negotiator, told The Associated Press that the accord would be implemented "as soon as possible." More talks, on economic development for Muslim areas, would begin in the first week of September.
"We have defined specific acts that will constitute a violation of the cease-fire agreement," Dureza said. "We enumerate all this, such as bombing, hijacking and other terrorist acts."
Local-level monitoring teams will include local officials and representatives from the rebels, non-governmental organizations and religious figures, Dureza said. A higher-level coordinating committee will be comprised of government and rebel leaders.
"We are involving the locals to see to it that peace is observed in their areas," Dureza told The AP. "This agreement is unique. It does not just involve the military."
Deal-brokers Malaysia, Libya and Indonesia will be invited to send observers.
Officials earlier said the pacts would be signed in the presence of Arroyo, who arrived here Tuesday on her first foreign trip since taking office in January.
But Manila chief negotiator Jesus Dureza said there was "no expectation of Arroyo witnessing the signing" of the treaty, outlining guidelines to enforce a cease-fire agreement made in Libya in June.
After the signing, Dureza and MILF officials met briefly with Mahathir and Arroyo. He said Arroyo congratulated them and called for development in Mindanao.
The next round of talks between the MILF and Manila would be held next month at a place to be decided later, he added.
Meanwhile in Zamboanga City, Philippines, the government troops have intensified efforts to track down Moslem Abu Sayyaf rebels holding captive 21 Americans and Filipinos for more than two months on a southern island, officials said Tuesday.
Army Major Alberto Gepilano said troops were closing in on the location of the Abu Sayyaf extremists on Basilan island province, 900 kilometers south of Manila, but were taking extra precaution for fear of injuring the hostages.
Red carpet
Meanwhile, Philippines President Gloria Arroyo received a red carpet welcome in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday on her first foreign trip since taking office.
Arroyo's visit here is the first by a Philippines leader since 1993.
She was immediately whisked to Parliament Square upon arrival where she was given a full-scale ceremonial welcome by Malaysian king Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah and Prime Minister Mahathir.
After private talks, the two leaders will head a delegation meeting before witnessing the signing of bilateral agreements on information technology, tourism and health, officials said.
Arroyo has praised Malaysia's efforts to forge peace in the southern Philippines and called Mahathir her "model of a leader."
She is expected to discuss with Mahathir efforts to revive the so-called East Asian Growth Area covering the southern Philippines, eastern Malaysia, Brunei and northern Indonesia.
The Malaysian king will host a state banquet for Arroyo at the palace late Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Arroyo will meet business leaders to woo investment, visit the world's tallest buildings, the Petronas Twin Towers, and have dinner with the Filipino community in Malaysia.
She returns to the Philippines on Thursday.