October 18, 2009, GMA News, 7:46, MILF meets with US officials on peace talks

Secessionist Moro rebels sought the help of the United States in forging peace negotiations with the Philippine government in a meeting with US Embassy officials in Mindanao over the weekend.

In an article posted on its Web site, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front described the meeting last Friday as “warm and forthright" and praised US diplomats for knowing the background of the decades-old Mindanao conflict.

“The US government knows very well the background of the conflict both historically and legally, and we believe that US can greatly help toward the peaceful resolution of the conflict," MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar told US Embassy officials.

Jaafar appealed to the US government to help in the resolution of the problem by addressing the root cause, which he said is political. He said the US’ granting of independence to the Philippines had immorally and illegally incorporated the Bangsamoro homeland.

MILF chairman Al Haj Murad reiterated the commitment and determination of the MILF since the start of the peace negotiation in 1997 to resolve the conflict in Mindanao.

“We convey the utmost gratitude and felicitation of the MILF and the Bangsamoro people to the United States of America and His Excellency President Barack Obama for the unfaltering commitment to support to the peace process and peaceful conflict resolution between the government and MILF," Murad said.

He told the US officials that the peace process has been gradually moving forward, citing the recently forged Framework Agreement on the formation of the International Contact Group (ICG) for the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)–MILF peace process as a major breakthrough.

Murad also expressed optimism that the framework agreement for the establishment of the civilian protection mission (CPM) would also be signed soon, clarifying that the CPM had been agreed in principle by the two parties.

ICG was conceived to muster proper leverage to push the peace negotiations toward achieving negotiated political settlement to the conflict.

For their part, US officials assured the MILF of the US' commitment to the peace process.

“Helping attain and sustain peace, security and development in Mindanao is a priority concern of our government," US charge d’affaires Leslie Bassett told the MILF officials led by Murad.

Other MILF officials at the meeting included chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, MILF central committee secretary Muhammad Ameen; Gordon Sayfullah, Senior Commander of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Force (BIAF), peace panel secretariat head Jun Mantawil and member Datu Michael Mastura; and Toks Ebrahim, Chairman of the MILF Ceasefire Committee.

Joining Bassett were US Embassy Political Officer Michael Pignagtello, USAid country director Elzaida Washingto, and Anthony Senci, Embassy Defense Minister.

Bassett said the US is committed to support the peace process in Mindanao, particularly between the government and the MILF. She said the US government is “very willing" to provide more assistance and more specific roles in the peace process between the Philippine government and the MILF.

“The United States government greatly respect and support people’s struggle and aspiration to achieve peace in the region," she said. - GMANews.TV