‘Be more involved in Mindanao peace’

HANOI — President Arroyo urged for a greater US involvement in the peace efforts in Mindanao by including more economic and military aid to promote greater presence in the fight against terrorism in the Southeast Asian region.

Mrs. Arroyo twice made the pitch before US President George W. Bush on the sidelines of the 14th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit here. The first was at the meeting between the US president and the heads of state of APEC members from Southeast Asia, and the second, at the "pull-aside" one-on-one meeting with Bush.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, who were among those present during the two meetings, said the efforts to sustain the talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) "will provide a second wind for the US involvement in Southeast Asia for advancing freedom and prosperity."

"Mindanao has all the ingredients of a fresh global crusade to defeat terror, to foster understanding and interfaith solidarity, to build self-determination, to fight ignorance and poverty," Bunye said, quoting Mrs. Arroyo during her bilateral meeting with Bush at the Hanoi International Convention Center.

Also present during the meeting were US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Trade Secretary Peter Favila.

Mrs. Arroyo said Mindanao "can be a theater for all that" multi-pronged campaign where the Philippines is also joined by Japan, the European Union and the rest of the country’s fellow ASEAN member-nations.

"We would like to invite deeper and broader involvement by the US in the Mindanao peace process alongside our fight against terror. This is an alliance that will benefit Asia and the whole world," she said.

Bush, for his part, gave assurance that the US will not stop its engagement in the Far East and will remain active in APEC and various forums in the region.

"He (Bush) was very positive about it," Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio said. "They’ve always been engaged with the Philippines. He said that our relations are very good and that they would continue working with us, with regard to Mindanao and other parts of the country."

Mrs. Arroyo cited examples of regional cooperation in combating terrorism that include the joint border patrol agreement among the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia to address cross-border movements of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militants and Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Mrs. Arroyo also cited the US help in the Philippines’ effort to combat terrorism, including in the ongoing government offensive in Sulu to hunt down suspected JI and Abu Sayyaf rebels, where the US military have been assisting Filipino troops.

She pointed out the US soldiers are training their Filipino counterparts in the fight against terrorism.

The President thanked Bush for the help of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

The USAID has been providing livelihood programs and energy to poor communities, "bringing implements that transformed rebels from fighters to farmers and fishermen."

At the same time. Mrs. Arroyo invited Bush to have the US accede to a treaty of amity of cooperation with the ASEAN.

"The US accession to the treaty of amity and cooperation will be a strong manifestation of the US commitment to the region," she said.