October 7, 2000, The Philippine Star, Gov't may eventually hold peace talks with MILF abroad, by Paolo Romero And John Unson,

October 7, 2000, The Philippine Star, Gov't may eventually hold peace talks with MILF abroad, by Paolo Romero And John Unson,

Malacañang appears to be softening its stand against holding peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in another country. Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado told a press briefing yesterday that the MILF's demand "can be considered," therefore increasing the possibility of a resumption of the stalled talks.

"Maybe it could be done in such a manner where it will be conducted abroad without according them (MILF) the status of belligerency," Mercado said. Al-Haj Murad, the MILF's military commander, said new talks should be held abroad because "Mindanao and the country are no longer conducive to peace negotiations."

Murad appeared before reporters for the first time since March, when the military launched a massive offensive to oust the MILF from its camps in Mindanao. The military reported that Murad was wounded or killed when soldiers captured the MILF headquarters, Camp Abubakar in Maguindanao, last July 9. "I am alive and kicking," he said. He was accompanied by about 150 guerrillas.

Murad held a news conference in a forest hideout just five kilometers from his former office, now turned into an Army outpost, at Camp Abubakar in Maguindanao.

Murad said the government should show sincerity in pursuing peace by dropping preconditions for the resumption of talks, removing bounties on MILF leaders' heads, and respecting previous agreements, including a 1997 ceasefire accord.

"The MILF still believes that the solution to the Mindanao conflict is a negotiated political solution," Murad said. "We remain open to everything," he added. "We do not say we don't want autonomy. If it will solve the (Muslim) problem, then we will accept it. If independence is the ultimate solution, then we will fight for it." Murad said they are willing to resume negotiations in a country that belongs to the 56-nation Organization of Islamic Conference, an influential group of Muslim states.

The MILF has been trying to get OIC support for its secessionist struggle but was earlier rebuffed. The OIC brokered a 1996 historic peace deal between the former main Muslim rebel group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and the previous Ramos administration. The MILF broke away from the MNLF in the late 1970s.

Murad said the MILF welcomes a planned visit in mid-October by an OIC mission that will observe the implementation of the 1996 accord. The mission will also look into the continuing clashes between the military and the MILF, even though the OIC recognizes the MNLF as the sole representative of Mindanao's Muslims.

"We are thanking the international community for looking into the problem in Mindanao," Murad said. President Estrada said yesterday that military operations against the MILF in some areas would be over as soon as the military destroys the rebels' capability to launch massive attacks. He did not give an estimate of how much longer the operations will take.

Last week, Mr. Estrada issued Proclamation 390 ordering an unconditional resumption of peace negotiations with the MILF and offered amnesty to the rebels.

However, the rebels rejected the offer, calling it a propaganda ploy and vowed to step up attacks against the government. "This is nothing but a simple call for surrender," Murad said. Nur Misuari, governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and chairman of the MNLF, has offered to help jumpstart the talks.

Misuari said he has been in touch with MILF leaders, including rebel chieftain (his former lieutenant) Hashim Salamat, for the past weeks. But he said he needs the President's authorization before he can discuss anything concrete with the MILF.

"I need the mandate. I cannot just discuss things with them without authority from the President," he told reporters. The MILF demand for holding peace talks in a foreign venue has proved to be a stumbling block to the resumption of negotiations. Malacañang has consistently rejected the demand, saying the conflict in Mindanao is a domestic issue. Mr. Estrada suspended talks with the MILF on June 30 after the rebels refused to abandon their secessionist goal, stop terrorist attacks and lay down their arms. Rebel leaders have rejected the President's conditions which they said mounted to surrender. – With Perseus Echeminada, Edith Regalado, AP