Peace talks can only resume if the government signs the agreement on ancestral domain granting large tracts of land in Mindanao to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Speaking over radio, Eid Kabalu, MILF civil-military affairs chief, said before any peace talks can resume, the government must first resolve the legality of the agreement, which President Arroyo has canceled and the Supreme Court has declared as unconstitutional.
“We are willing to talk peace,” he said. “In fact, unlike the government, we haven’t disbanded our own panel. It’s still intact.”
Any resumption of peace negotiations should start from the stage where it stopped – the signing of the agreement on ancestral domain, Kabalu said.
Meanwhile, the MILF’s website Luwaran reported that its fighters attacked a police station in Barangay Kawit, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte on New Year’s Day.
“At 12:30 past midnight, Jan. 1, the mujahideen guerrillas assaulted the police,” read the announcement.
“A few hours after this, at precisely 5:20 a.m., simultaneous attacks were made on military troops at Barangays Bansayan and Odalo in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur.
“At 6:40 a.m., the mujahideen guerrillas also attacked troops at Barangay Talao, also in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur.”
Five policemen and nine soldiers – among them an officer – have died, while one MILF rebel has been killed in the series of raids, according to the website.
In Basilan, Marines launched an attack against Abu Sayyaf kidnappers and their MILF allies after their last captive had been rescued.
Brig. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, 1st Marine Brigade commander, said the offensive against the kidnappers was slowed down to ensure the safety of the victims.
“It would not be difficult for our troops to hit the group now that they have no hostages to use as human shields,” he said.
Guerrero said the military has always given priority to the safety of kidnap victims before launching any offensive.
“We have been holding our punches and have been selective about our targets while we have dismantled the bastion where they were regrouping and holding refuge in a hill of Bohe Lebong, Al-Barka,” he said.
The last kidnap victim, Nicole Raveche, was freed two hours before the New Year in Tuburan town after her family gave the kidnappers an unspecified amount in ransom. – With Roel Pareño