Philippine government seeks interim pact with Muslim rebels

Manila - The Philippines is seeking an interim peace pact with Muslim separatist rebels before the end of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's term in June, the chief negotiator said Tuesday. Foreign Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, chairman of the government peace negotiating panel with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said the proposed agreement would protect gains achieved in talks under the Arroyo administration.

"We have already established the necessary infrastructure and environment to sustain peace and stability," he said. "If we don't sign an interim agreement, we go back to square one."

Seguis said there was not enough time to reach a full peace accord with the MILF, the largest Muslim separatist rebel group in the Philippines, before Arroyo's term ends on June 30.

"We would no longer be able to sign a comprehensive agreement at this time," he said.

Seguis said the rebel group's proposal to convert an existing autonomous Muslim region in the southern Philippines into a "self-governance setup" would require new legislation or amendments to the constitution.

He said the government was working on a counter-proposal but admitted, "Nothing can be done between now and June 30."

The MILF first entered into peace negotiations with the government in 1997. Since then, the two sides signed a ceasefire agreement and set up an international team to monitor the truce.

In August 2008, the peace talks were suspended after disgruntled MILF rebel commanders launched a series of attacks to protest the non-signing of a key territorial agreement that would have expanded the autonomous Muslim region.

More than 300 people were killed, while more than half a million residents were displaced due to the fighting.

The negotiations resumed about one year later, when the government and rebels agreed to establish an international group to monitor the progress of the talks.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/313146,philippine-government-seeks-interim-pact-with-muslim-rebels.html.