MANILA, Philippines - Saying direct dealing is a "thing of the past," the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rejected Tuesday any attempt by government to "localize" the peace process.
MILF deputy spokesman Khaled Musa warned the government that such a direct approach to the peace talks "should never be attempted at all."
"This is a ploy to edge out the Malaysian government and pave the way for the entry of another facilitator which the government believed it can manipulate," Musa said in a statement on the MILF website.
The MILF official cited reports that the government is finding ways to bypass the Malaysian facilitators in favor of a more direct contact with the MILF through its peace negotiating team.
"There is asbsolutely no reason to look for new facilitator, because Malaysia has been an epitome of excellent facilitation since 2001," Musa said.
Musa said Malaysia works systematically and meticulously and follows procedures strictly, which he cited as good reason why the Philippines lags behind Malaysia by 50 years.
"If there is a snag now in the talks, the government can only be blamed for its dilly-dallying tactics. They are only interested in perpetual ceasefire in Mindanao," Musa said.
As this developed, the MILF said a source in its central committee said the Arroyo administration is resorting to a last-ditch effort to dupe the MILF into believing that it is sincere in pursuing the settlement of the Moro conflict.
The source said the government is now using several former high-profile government officials to reach out to the leadership of the MILF, including a very high government official and a former high official of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Both officials assured the MILF that the government is really working to reach an agreement with the MILF before she retires in 2010, the source said. - GMANews.TV