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Home/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ July 29, 2000, The Philippine Star, MILF cancels peace talks, demands foreign venue, by Roel Pareño and Paolo Romero,

July 29, 2000, The Philippine Star, MILF cancels peace talks, demands foreign venue, by Roel Pareño and Paolo Romero,

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July 29, 2000, The Philippine Star, MILF cancels peace talks, demands foreign venue, by Roel Pareño and Paolo Romero,

The separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has canceled its talks with the government scheduled for today, insisting peace negotiations should be held in another country. 

Retired Gen. Edgardo Batenga, chief of the government negotiating panel, received a letter yesterday from his MILF counterpart Aleem Mimbantas asking that the talks be moved to August and that they be held on neutral ground. 

MILF central committee spokesman Eid Kabalu confirmed that their top leaders have decided to move the peace talks to August, but gave no definite date. 

Kabalu said peace talks should be held on neutral ground to protect MILF leaders from possible arrest. 

"This is for the security of our comrades who are directly involved in the talks with the government panel," he explained. "We cannot gamble with the security of our brothers." 

National Security Adviser Alexander Aguirre said the government cannot accept the MILF proposal. 

"The stand of the government is that peace negotiations will be held in the country since the insurgency issue is a domestic affair," Aguirre said. "We have a difference of opinion here." 

He also pointed out the talks cannot be facilitated since the MILF has yet to submit an updated list of persons to be given safety and security guarantees (SSGs). However, Aguirre said there was still a positive note to the latest postponement. Attached to Mimbantas' letter, he explained, was a proposed interim agreement, which had been a product of back-channeling between both sides at the sidelines of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Kuala Lumpur. 

"In that proposed agreement, it was stated that the MILF and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines shall discuss autonomy as the solution to the Mindanao problem," Aguirre said. 

Last week, the MILF rejected President Estrada's peace deal offer for limited autonomy, and stuck to its bid for an independent Islamic state. 

Aguirre said government negotiators will continue with back- channeling efforts as well as with informal contact with their MILF counterparts to try and persuade the rebels to agree to in-country peace talks. 

Malacañang said it was willing to discuss with the MILF its proposal to reset the talks just to keep the negotiations going. 

Although the rebels said they are willing to negotiate, the talks seemed headed for an impasse. Peace efforts have been stalled following heavy fighting, which ultimately led to the capture of Camp Abubakar, the MILF's main enclave. 

MILF sets up camp at foot of Mt. Apo

At least 5,000 MILF rebels have established a camp at the foot of Mt. Apo, military intelligence reports said yesterday. 

Rebels set up camp after obtaining "clearance" from the guerrillas of the communist New People's Army (NPA) in the area, the report added. 

The new camp is located in the same area where NPA rebels held captive Army Brig. Gen. Victor Obillo and his aide Capt. Eduardo Montealto last year. 

It was further revealed that the camp is only accessible by foot, making it impenetrable to tanks and armored personnel carriers. 

The perimeter of the MILF camp is being secured with the help of NPA rebels, confirming earlier reports that the two groups have established a military alliance. 

Meanwhile, some 30 MILF rebels attacked an Army detachment in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte yesterday morning but were immediately repulsed by government troops. Col. Luciano Campos, deputy commander of the Army's 402nd Infantry Brigade, said government forces suffered no casualties from the attack. 

The rebels, on the other hand, suffered several casualties, based on the bloodstains along their path of retreat. 

Campos said government troops are conducting pursuit operations, and that there will be no let-up until all rebel groups are driven out of the area.--With Lino de la Cruz, Jaime Laude 

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