Gov't, MILF resume peace talks in Cotabato

COTABATO -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front resumed peace talks with the government yesterday after a month of bloody fighting that left nearly 200 people dead and displaced almost a quarter of a million people, officials said.

Chief government negotiator Edgardo Batenga and Moner Bajunaid, representing the MILF, both attended the opening ceremony at a hotel here.

Bajunaid took the place of chief MILF negotiator Aleem Abdulaziz Mimbantas, who informed the government that he could not make it to yesterday's meeting, government officials said.

It was reported that Mimbantas was trapped inside Camp Bushra, which was overrun by government troops yesterday.

"He could not leave the camp. That is his camp," said MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu.

This prompted the Cabinet Cluster E on national security to approve a recommendation to grant safety and immunity passes to members of the MILF negotiating team.

"Because there may be some technical difficulties for MILF panel members to get out of their camps which are presently under military operations... we have agreed that they should be given safe guarantees," said Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr., chairman of that Cabinet cluster.

As of yesterday, the government has not yet received any requests for safety conduct passes for MILF negotiators.

During the talks, both the government and the MILF agreed "to forget the past" and peacefully resolve the Mindanao crisis.

Bajunaid said their panel "will not demand for anything" for them to return to the negotiating table.

The MILF is the larger of two rebel groups fighting for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao. The other is the Abu Sayyaf extremist group, which is holding 21 hostages in Jolo, Sulu.

The government has rejected a demand for a separate state, but said it will discuss economic development and greater autonomy for Camp Abubakar, where thousands of civilians live.

In a television broadcast on the eve of the resumption of the talks, President Estrada asked the MILF "to take this last best chance at peace."

"Let us work together to bring peace and development to our Muslim communities," he said.

Mr. Estrada has threatened an "all-out war" against the rebels if a peace agreement is not reached by June 30.

Bajunaid expressed hopes that there will be no timetable for the talks. "Giving the talks a timetable will only derail the peace process," he said.

In a prepared statement, Bajunaid said the Mindanao conflict would have been averted if not for "military adventurism."

He claimed that the trouble started when soldiers attacked Camp Abubakar in Maguindanao and the MILF rebels positioned along the Narciso Ramos highway.

At least 1450 soldiers have been killed and more than 560 others wounded since January in fighting against Muslim rebels in Mindanao.

Yesterday, the President said the government intends to resolve the secession movement at the soonest possible time.

"Our people are getting impatient," he said. "They want results and they want them fast."

"The government has already exhausted all peaceful and legal remedies over the past 14 years. We cannot allow the Muslim insurgency to go on -- and worsen. We must resolve this problem now," the President said.

Mr. Estrada again renewed his appeal to the MILF to seize the "historic opportunity" in bringing peace in Mindanao.- With Marichu Villanueva, Liberty Dones, Aurora Alambra, wire reports