Talks with MILF to start in June

The Philippines is open to holding peace talks with the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) either in Indonesia or Malaysia, which have both offered to host negotiations beginning June.

Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza said the two countries’ offer to host the peace talks sends "very positive messages" to the Philippine government as both Indonesia and Malaysia are members of the influential Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

"This means that our neighbors are with us in (pursuing) peace in Mindanao," he said.

Dureza clarified that the offers of Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur to host the peace talks should not be interpreted as intervention in the internal affairs of the Philippines since they were "offers of partnership and assistance."

But Dureza said the final venue of the peace negotiations would have to be mutually decided by both the government and MILF panels. "It has to be mutually agreed upon so we are not foreclosing any area of engagement," he said.

Dureza also said the MILF has not finalized the composition of its peace panel although communication lines with them have long been opened. A "framework agreement" between the two sides was signed in Kuala Lumpur last March and the MILF said the formal talks should be continued there.

Indonesia, on the other hand, had earlier hosted the peace negotiations between the two panels and this could be an advantage should the government decide to hold the talks in Jakarta.

Indonesia and Malaysia made the offer to host the talks after Manila said it could agree to a foreign venue for the sake of making peace with the Muslim secessionists. – Aurea Calica