Peace talks in Jeddah to discuss ID system for MNLF

COTABATO CITY -- Ranking leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) said Saturday the military's proposal for an ID system among their forces in Sulu will be discussed during the holding of the tripartite meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in April. But a group of militant Muslim organization, Suara Bangsamoro, criticized the propose ID system, saying it will not resolve clashes between government security forces and the rebel group in Sulu. "It will be discussed during the technical working group talks between government, MNLF and Organization of Islamic Conference on March 17-18. It is one of the subject matters," said Hatimil Hassan, MNLF's deputy chairman and assemblyman in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. "It means, if there's a need for that among our forces, then let it be. All the military's proposal must be discussed with us. It's a sensitive issue," he said. The MNLF signed in 1996 a peace agreement with the Philippine government under the Ramos administration. Its members however continue to hold on to their firearms. Several clashes have erupted between soldiers and MNLF combatants in recent days because of alleged lack of coordination. The OIC, through its secretary general Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, reaffirmed earlier its commitment in finding “fair solution" to obstacles in the implementation of the peace treaty between government and the MNLF. Muslimin Sema, MNLF's secretary general, said they will assess the likely effects of the proposed ID system. "I cannot say yes or no. I cannot categorically say if it's bad or good. Anything within us and government must be discussed… Because it's not in the peace agreement, maybe it can be included," Sema, mayor of this city, said. Ustadz Zain Jali, spiritual leader of MNLF chair Nur Misuari, earlier said the effects of the move would be felt by the entire Sulu population, which is more than 600,000. He said about 90 percent of the people of Sulu belongs to the MNLF, which has a peace agreement with the government. The military's chief for Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City, Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, said the ID system would help the military "determine who the friendly forces on the ground are." Aminah Lidasan, chair of Suara Bangsamoro group, said the ID system is a violation of the peace treaty between the Philippine government and the MNLF. "There was an agreement that military will not conduct operations in MNLF-recognized areas but they continue (their operations) in the guise of tracking down Abu Sayyaf militants. That's the reason why clashes happen," Lidasan said. "It’s (an) invasion against MNLF. That's profiling also (that could) be used against the people there. Suara abhors the ID system," she added. -GMANews.TV