By Janice Cave
MANILA, (PNA) -– Upon the request of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari, Indonesia has postponed the Sept 16 tripartite review talks between the Philippine government, MNLF and the Organization of Islamic Conference.
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Sec. Teresita “Ging” Deles said the government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, received from the Embassy of Indonesia a note verbale concerning the postponement.
“It stated that the request was made by MNLF Chair Nur Misuari due to the ‘situation in Zamboanga City,’” Deles said in a statement.
Deles said Indonesia, the third party facilitator, received a letter from the Chair of the MNLF Secretariat requesting for the postponement of the tripartite meet to a later date, preferably in the first week of October.
”The Department of Foreign Affairs has accordingly conveyed to the Indonesian Embassy that the government will respect the decision of the OIC-PCSP Chair [OIC Peace Committee for Southern Philippines],” she said.
Deles said the peace talks with the MNLF is delayed anew but expressed hope that it would not be indefinitely postponed.
”We consider it unfortunate that this opportunity for a face-to-face meeting that had been set precisely to discuss the status of the Tripartite Implementation review and the future of this peace process is yet again delayed,” she said.
”We conveyed to the Chair of the OIC-PCSP our concern that this meeting not be indefinitely postponed,” she added.
”We remain committed to our continuing engagement with the MNLF for the full implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement, in pursuit of just and lasting peace in Mindanao,” she said.