Manila, Moro Front start peace talks in Tripoli under al-Qaddafi's auspices
Libya-Philippines, Politics, 6/22/2001

Peace talks started on Wednesday in Tripoli between the government of Manila and the Moro Islamic front for liberation, the main movement for Muslims separatists in the Philippines.

The talks will be under the auspices of al-Qaddafi's son, Seif al- Islam who expressed hope that the two sides will be able to bridge the gap separating them concerning main issues of conflict.

A source at al-Qaddafi charity foundation chaired by Seif al-Islam said that these negotiations which aim at ending tens of years of fighting between the separatists and the regular Philippines forces will initially continue until 25th of this month June.

The Philippines government's delegation in Tripoli negotiations is composed of the vice President and the foreign minister Teyfesto Grengona and the delegation of Moro front, who is a military official Muhammad Murad.

Indonesia foreign minister Ali Shehab is taking part in these negotiations together with a Malaysian representative. These talks are expected to result in signing a peace agreement between the Philippines government and Moro front which has been fighting for the establishment of an independent Islamic state in Mindanao island.

In his inaugural speech at the opening of the talks, Seif al-Islam expressed his hope that the two sides will be able to settle their disputes with an open mind, stressing the possibility of reaching a solution by joint work and through creating atmospheres of confidence.

According to news reports, Seif al-Islam said: " our aim is to reach a just an comprehensive solution for the long lasting dispute and work for developing and rebuilding the southern parts of the Philippines." However, it is scheduled that the negotiations will concentrate on four main points: first a joint declaration of a cease- fire, forming a special tripartite committee including Libyans, Indonesians and Malaysians to investigate the implementation of the cease- fire, secondly a self rule for Southern Philippines and thirdly drawing government development projects for this region and fourthly the Moro Islamic front for liberation's honoring of the peace agreements signed since 1976 between the Philippines authorities and Moro front for national liberation. This front is another Muslim separatist movement which had signed a peace agreement with the government of Manila.

In 1996, Libya, Indonesia and Malaysia took part in peace talks between manila and Moro front for national liberation. The Moro Islamic front for liberation, whose number is estimated at 12500 members have been carrying arms since 23 years in order to establish an Islamic state in the southern part of the Philippines, where the Muslim minorities in this country live with most population are Catholics. This front was born following the split in the lines of Moro front for national liberation in 1978 and it did not join the peace agreement signed in 1996.

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