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.