Philippines, Muslim Rebels Resume Talks In Malaysia
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent Manila, Philippines (AHN) - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a Muslim separatist group south of the Philippines, has confirmed on Wednesday that they have resumed peace negotiations with the Philippine government in Malaysia, which is aimed at breaking a deadlock over the economic control of land. Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman told the AFP, "Our peace negotiating panel is there. They will talk about resolving differences on the issue of ancestral domain, which remains the thorniest issue." The MILF is seeking economic control over a proposed fragmented Muslim homeland in southern Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago in southern Philippines. The talks entered a deadlock as the government's position is to give the MILF economic control over 600 villages and towns while the rebels wants control over more than 1,000. Under the proposal, the MILF will have a significant share in the earnings from natural resources in the areas. The 12,000-strong MILF has been waging a separatist rebellion for an Islamic state in Mindanao since 1978, when it split from the larger Moro National Liberation Front. The MNLF signed a peace accord with Manila in 1996 in exchange for limited self-rule and abandoning its armed struggle. However, government negotiators were pessimistic that a final peace accord will be signed with the MILF this year. For their part, Kabalu said the Muslim rebels were |
