PHILIPPINES: MILF rebel group given 60-day ultimatum to cease attacks

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Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

MANILA, May 13 2003 (IPS) - Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople on Monday proposed a 60-day ultimatum for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to "cease and desist from any unprovoked attacks and atrocities against civilians in Mindanao" before taking action, which will include tagging them as a terrorist organization.

Ople also said the MILF should manifest "some degree of good faith in dealing with the Philippine government" within the two-month period.

Otherwise, Ople warned that the Arroyo Administration will "use all available means to stop their atrocities against civilians."

The DFA briefing to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) envoys detailed the sequence of bombings and attacks committed by the MILF in recent days, particularly in central Mindanao.

"We believe it is important for the Islamic ambassadors to understand what is happening there, the bombings in Siocon, Koronadal, other places in Mindanao, resulting in the loss of 77 civilian lives not to mention some casualties from the AFP and the PNP," Ople said.

Some of the ambassadors, particularly those from Libya, Iran and Pakistan, raised the question on putting terrorist tag on the MILF.

"The DFA is taking a more benign attitude which means that in 60 days we will observe them. And if their behavior is bad, it may not mean a go ahead in the peace talks. But if they behave responsibly according to established moral and legal standards then we should encourage the peace talks which means a final peace agreement will be offered to the MILF," he said.

At the same time, Ople admitted that the government itself is divided on the proposal to tag the MILF as a terrorist group.

But during the briefing, Ople and Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Eduardo Ermita informed the ambassadors that the government remains open to the resumption of the peace talks as soon as a conducive environment is attained in Mindanao.

The OIC envoys, according to Ople, have reached a consensus to "condemn all acts of terrorism" no matter who perpetrated them.

They also reiterated commitment to support the Philippine government in its desire to settle all differences with the Moslem rebel group through peaceful and diplomatic means.

The envoys added they are eager to provide more support to the development of Mindanao to uplift the living conditions of the Muslim population there.

Meanwhile, Ople asked the OIC to use its "moral suasion" over the MILF "to encourage them to be more law-abiding, more responsible in their action" and convince them to go back to the negotiating table.

("With this, we hope) it will open the way for the resumption of peace talks no longer exploratory, but in final terms," Ople said.