NEWSFLASH

MILF SETS CONDITIONS FOR DROPPING SECESSIONIST BID

Camp Busrah, Lanao del Sur, February 14, 2000 - The militant rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) announced yesterday its willingness to drop their campaign for secession and independence if the government fulfills promised development programs for the Bangsamoro people.

MILF chairman Ustadzh Hashim Salamat denied reports of a planned rebel offensive in Mindanao, and reiterated that his group remains committed to the search for “peace and unity.”

He urged national government officials to implement promised development programs in Bangsamoro communities as a show of sincerity, which he said could encourage the Bangsamoro people to drop their independence bid.

MILF and government representatives will meet today to decide the clustering of talking points for the formal peace talks set for Feb. 21-22. The technical working groups will try to thresh out conflicting positions at their level and submit a general framework for peace negotiators of both sides.

MILF chief negotiator Aleem Abdul Asis S. Mimbantan quoted Salamat as saying, “there is no cause for alarm,” despite military claims of a rebel build-up in preparation for a major offensive against Christian-dominated cities.

“It is a black propaganda of some political leaders and other people who have bad intentions to destroy the administration of President Joseph Ejercito Estrada in his massive campaign to improve peace and order in the country,” Salamat was quoted as saying.