The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebel group in the Philippines signed a historic territorial peace deal with the government today, ending over four decades of conflict with the government of Philippines.
The Asia Foundation’s representative in the Philippines and adviser to the peace talks, Steven Rood, commended the MILF Chairman, Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim for being realistic during negotiations and accepting territory smaller than what was claimed in 1973. Expanding on the need to separate the communities in the region, he added,
Weeks before the current president of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino, was elected the MILF hosted a secret meeting with high-ranking US embassy officials and American dignitaries in attempts to resolve the longstanding issues of the aggrieved community.
An estimated 120,000 people have died in the separatist conflict since 1970.
The Asia Foundation’s representative in the Philippines and adviser to the peace talks, Steven Rood, commended the MILF Chairman, Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim for being realistic during negotiations and accepting territory smaller than what was claimed in 1973. Expanding on the need to separate the communities in the region, he added,
“While there might be dreams of sufficient agreement and relations between the communities, the fact of the matter is that the Christian community does not want to be part of a Muslim-dominated region. They don’t mind having a Muslim-dominated region next door, if it is a peaceful one. But even if it is peaceful, they do not want to be a part of it.”
Weeks before the current president of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino, was elected the MILF hosted a secret meeting with high-ranking US embassy officials and American dignitaries in attempts to resolve the longstanding issues of the aggrieved community.
An estimated 120,000 people have died in the separatist conflict since 1970.