November 16, 2000, The Philippine Star, OIC to government MILF Stop hostilities pursue peace negotiations,

November 16, 2000, The Philippine Star, OIC to government MILF Stop hostilities pursue peace negotiations,

The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), in a draft resolution, again called on the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to "promptly put an end to armed hostilities and to pursue peace talks toward finding a peaceful resolution to the existing problem in Mindanao."

  
This, as military forces continue their offensive against MILF rebels who engage in attacks in certain parts of Mindanao. Both sides have yet to reach a compromise that will pave the way for resumption of peace negotiations. 

  
The OIC, in the draft resolution regarding "questions of Muslims in Southern Philippines," still recognizes the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) as the sole and legitimate representative of the Bangsamoro people, which should be given more support for development. 

Thus, the OIC "urges member-states and subsidiary organs, specialized and affiliated institutions, including the Islamic Development Bank, to increase their economic, financial, technical and material assistance for the  reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Southern Philippines through the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) under the auspices of the MNLF." 

The OIC also tasked a committee to make necessary contacts with the Philippine government and the MNLF to define a timetable for the implementation of their 1996 peace agreement. The draft resolution came about after an OIC fact-finding mission visited Mindanao last October to assess the implementation of the peace accord. 

Earlier, acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Franklin Ebdalin said the mission took notice of progress in Mindanao despite constraints that the government had to face. "It was good in the sense that they were not criticizing the Philippine government because we have been transparent," Ebdalin said. Although the OIC team noted the slow pace in the implementation of the peace accord, it also considered problems in peace and order and the government's lack of funds to carry out projects in Mindanao. 

  
"The OIC recommends that we accelerate the (implementation of the agreement) and that the Philippine government and the MNLF should talk more often to come up with a timetable for the enforcement of the pact," Ebdalin said. 

The OIC fact-finding mission also took notice of the presence of non-MNLF elements, including the MILF and the Abu Sayyaf, as another factor delaying the implementation of the agreement. On the political aspect, the mission proposed that the government and the MNLF agree on the date of the plebiscite on the expansion of the ARMM's coverage, which has been set before the May elections next year.