Estrada unlikely to meet soon with Salamat — Zamora

President Estrada is unlikely to meet soon with Hashim Salamat, head of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) because an agenda for peace talks has not been prepared, Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said yesterday.

This developed as military troops thwarted another attempt by MILF rebels to launch attacks in Carmen, North Cotabato the other day, killing nine guerrillas and wounding 13 others in a day-long gunbattle.

Last Monday, Mr. Estrada said Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid had offered to serve as a go-between with Salamat, and was arranging a meeting between Salamat and Mr. Estrada.

Wahid made the offer at a meeting of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders in Brunei last week, Mr. Estrada said.

However, Zamora said the government must first draw up an agenda for the resumption of peace negotiations with the MILF.

"We don’t want a one-on-one discussion to start if it is not necessary," Zamora said in a radio interview. "It would be difficult for President Estrada to hold a meeting with Salamat without knowing what should be discussed."

Zamora said the formal peace talks may be hosted by a member of the 56-nation Organization of Islamic Conference, but not Indonesia, which brokered a 1996 peace agreement with another Muslim rebel group, the Moro National Liberation Front.

A meeting between Mr. Estrada and Salamat would give a significant political boost to Mr. Estrada, who is facing an impeachment trial on charges of bribery and corruption.

Mr. Estrada suspended peace talks with the MILF in June after it refused to abandon its secessionist goal and its armed struggle.

His government launched an offensive against MILF camps in Central Mindanao earlier this year, prompting Salamat to declare a jihad or holy war against the government.

Since then, rebel attacks on government forces and targets have increased and Mr. Estrada’s government has sought to restart the peace talks.

The rebels said they are willing to resume talks under certain conditions, including government recognition of previous agreements, including a ceasefire. — John Unson