Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Fides Service) - “The Philippines has a real opportunity to end the conflict between the government and rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front MILF in the southern islands”: this is the opinion voiced by Filipino Father Eliseo Mercado OMI, head of the Office for Justice and Peace of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who for many years taught at Notre Dame University in Cotabato in the southern island of Mindanao.
According to Father Mercado, the new scenario is the Philippines is encouraging: on the one hand the probable re-election of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo which would allow a certain continuity of men and ideas in relations with the MILF besides bringing with it determined support of the United States and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
On the other hand, the missionary told Fides, the new MILF leadership, after the death last year of the historical Muslim leader Hashim Salamat - demonstrates pragmatism and realism, free from ideological religious claims, which would point to the chance for an agreement. MILF’s new “triumvirate” leadership consist of Ebrahim Al Haj Murad, head of the movement; Jaafar Ghazali, vice head political affairs; Iqbal Mohagher, in charge of relations and head of negotiations commission. All three hail from the movement’s military rather than the religious wing which is an advantage in view of peace talks.
Following the July 2003 cease fire signed by government and MILF, talks were expected to resume between the parties but were postponed until after the announcement of the results of presidential and legislative elections held in May, expected any day now. “They need to find the right institutional formula to restore peace and within the framework of the Republic of the Philippines give autonomy to Muslim majority areas in the south”, Father Mercado told Fides.
Recently the MILF said it is ready to collaborate with the new head of state elected, who ever it is, and also that is it willing to help eliminate from southern Philippines the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), extremsist Muslim organisation, thought to be connected with Al-Qaeda. In the past the Philippines security forces accused the MILF of providing logistic support and training for JI men on Mindanao.
According to Father Mercado, today “the Philippines needs a national unity government to restore peace and solve the problems afflicting the economy, politics and society: high unemployment rate, poverty, corruption, achieve a peace agreement with pro-Communist Muslim guerrillas”.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 16/6/2004 lines 33 words 358)
