No word from Malaysia yet on MILF talks — Kabalu

DAVAO CITY — There has been no word yet from the Malaysian government as to when fresh exploratory talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would be held, although earlier reports said they would take place anytime next week.

"There has been no advice yet from the Malaysian government. We are just awaiting word from the host of the talks," MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said.

Kabalu said what would take place would only be exploratory talks and not the resumption of the long-stalled formal peace negotiations.

"Not everything has been ironed out yet. There are still hitches that need to be worked out," he said.

Aside from issues on ancestral domain and economic package that need to be resolved in the exploratory talks, the MILF’s alleged links with the Jemaah Islamiyah, an Indonesia-based terrorist group, have also been hampering the peace talks.

The MILF is blaming the government for the entry of members of the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah into the country because of lax security in the southern backdoor.

The Jemaah Islamiyah has been blamed for bombings and other attacks in Mindanao and Metro Manila.

Military and police authorities claimed that Jemaah Islamiyah members have been training in MILF camps since 1997, even recruiting MILF members to run terrorist cells in the country.

At least 40 Jemaah Islamiyah members are reportedly still in the country.

"Don’t point a finger at us and don’t blame us. The problem is with the government not being able to properly secure the border waters between Indonesia and Mindanao. So what do you expect? These Jemaah Islamiyah members easily enter through the southern backdoor," Kabalu told The STAR.

Kabalu, however, denied anew accusations that the MILF has links with the terrorist group. "We have nothing to do with it. We are against terrorism," he said.

The Armed Forces’ Southern Command has failed to properly implement the existing border patrol agreement with Indonesia, particularly in setting up cross-border stations.

For instance, a border-crossing station was supposed to be set up in Tibanban in Gov. Generoso, Davao Oriental. But the station was instead established at the Sta. Ana wharf in Davao City, making it easy for Indonesians to get into the southern metropolis.

Meanwhile, Kabalu lambasted the results of a US inquiry on the Sept. 11, 2001 bombings identifying Mindanao as a terrorist haven.

"It is not a fair statement. Do you think Mindanao is a terrorist haven? If it were true, then there would be no business going on in the place," he said.