EU urges RP, MILF to resume talks

MANILA, Philippines – The European Union (EU) urged the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to resume peace talks amid an escalation of fighting in Central Mindanao.

In a statement in Manila, the EU said it was deeply concerned by the growing number of civilian casualties and displaced people and “condemns the indiscriminate killing of civilians.”

“The European Union believes strongly that the conflict in Mindanao can only be resolved through dialogue and calls upon all parties to show restraint and genuine respect for the rule of law,” the EU said.

The EU urged the Philippine government and the MILF, “who both have invested heavily in the peace process, to agree to an early return to the negotiating table in order to seek a lasting solution to the conflict.”

Violence erupted early last month when renegade MILF commanders raided villages, shooting or hacking to death scores of civilians after a preliminary peace accord was aborted.

More than half a million people have been displaced or have lost their homes and livelihoods, and the civilian death toll has risen to 68 in the wake of a military offensive to arrest the recalcitrant MILF leaders.

The EU also expressed concern that government-armed civilian militias “may become embroiled in the violence” and heighten the danger of an outbreak of an armed religious conflict.

The EU reiterated its willingness to continue to assist communities in Mindanao, but said the “successful delivery of its development programs could be jeopardized if the violence continues.”

The government and the MILF were close to signing the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), a preliminary agreement that would have allowed the rebel group self-rule over an expanded autonomous region in Central Mindanao.

The Supreme Court, however, stopped the government and the MILF from signing the MOA-AD, allowing the petition of local officials questioning the legality of the agreement.

Following the attacks by the MILF, the government disbanded the negotiating panel and indefinitely suspended the Malaysia-brokered talks.

In a letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last week, President Arroyo said the Philippine government would not resume the talks “with a gun pointed at our head,” and would press for the surrender of the rebel leaders accused of triggering the deadly rampage, according to Presidential Peace Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

Esperon said he personally delivered her letter to Badawi.

Esperon also discussed with Malaysian officials other ways to sustain the peace process in Mindanao.

He said the Malaysian government has agreed to continue as facilitator of the peace talks. –Pia Lee-Brago, Jose Rodel Clapano, Sandy Araneta, Evelyn Macairan, AP