US embassy cable - 05MANILA2559

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002559 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/PMBS, INR/EAP, USIP-SOLOMON 
NSC FOR GREEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2015 
TAGS: PINS, PTER, PREL, MOPS, MY, LY, RP 
SUBJECT: MILF CONSULTATION: A FRESH MANDATE AND OPTIMISTIC 
OUTLOOK 
 
REF: MANILA 1857 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Joseph Saus for 
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
1.  (SBU) The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) held a 
three-day public consultation on the outskirts of Cotabato 
City May 29-31 to renew its negotiating mandate before 
heading into the next round of peace talks with the GRP.  GRP 
officials describe the event as "the largest show of mass 
approval for the MILF ever."  GRP officials believe MILF 
Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim may be signaling to his 
constituents that a resolution to the conflict is 
fast-approaching.  The massive display of support boosted the 
MILF's legitimacy in the eyes of its own membership, the GRP, 
and the international community.  The crowd supported 
statements highlighting the ongoing peace process with the 
GRP, and Murad reaffirmed publicly the MILF's opposition to 
terrorism.  The MILF also stated publicly its willingness to 
work with the GRP in arresting suspected terrorists and said 
it is "validating" a list of wanted terrorists in 
coordination with the GRP.  However, to be credible, the MILF 
must take clear and concerted action against the terrorists 
sheltering in its midst.  End Summary. 
 
Mindanao's Woodstock 
-------------------- 
 
2.  (SBU) The MILF concluded a three day "public 
consultation" on the outskirts of Cotabato City, Maguindanao 
Province, May 29-31.  Although the MILF claimed an estimated 
four million supporters attended, these reports are likely 
exaggerated.  According to Armed Forces of the Philippines 
(AFP) contacts, the event drew 200,000-400,000 participants. 
The consultation culminated on May 30th with a public rally 
attended by several GRP officials from the Office of the 
Presidential Adviser to the Peace Process (OPAPP), diplomats, 
NGO officials, and media representatives.  OPAPP and MILF 
officials confirmed to poloff that nearly all the members of 
the GRP and MILF peace negotiating panels were present.  In 
response to an MILF invitation to attend, Embassy sent a 
letter of support to Chairman Murad on May 27 (copy faxed to 
EAP/PMBS), but did not send an observer, citing logistical 
and security concerns.  On May 30, an MILF representative 
reportedly read the Embassy letter to the crowd.  Witnesses 
at the scene told poloff the crowd and MILF officials 
appreciated the Embassy's letter, which expressed US support 
for the peace process and mutual objectives that advance 
peace and development in Mindanao. 
 
Marshaling Support For Peace 
---------------------------- 
 
3.  (SBU) The consultation, which succeeded in mobilizing 
hundreds of thousands of supporters, served to reinforce the 
MILF's mandate as the representative of the "Bangsamoro 
People" in peace negotiations with the GRP.  (Note: The 
Bangsamoro (Muslim Nation) is defined as the Filipino-Muslim 
inhabitants of central and western Mindanao and the Sulu 
Archipelago.  They are from several distinct ethnic tribes. 
End Note.)  President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) in a May 
30 press statement welcomed such peaceful, democratic, and 
people-based consultations in promoting peace and 
development, and expressed confidence that with the support 
of the international community, the GRP would be able to 
solve the decades-old peace problem in Mindanao. 
 
4.  (C) Presidential Adviser to the Peace Process, Secretary 
Teresita "Ging" Deles, was the highest ranking GRP official 
to attend.  In her remarks, she noted the importance of 
hearing and acknowledging the will of the people.  She noted 
OPAPP would also conduct in the coming months broad-based 
consultations among the different stakeholders.  According to 
Ryan Sullivan, an OPAPP official and staff member of the GRP 
Peace Negotiating Panel with the MILF, the event was "the 
largest show of mass approval for the MILF ever." Secretary 
Deles and Secretary Silvestre Afable, the Chairman of the GRP 
Peace Negotiating Panel, who also attended, were favorably 
impressed, according to Sullivan.  Sullivan said MILF 
Chairman Murad appeared confident and optimistic, and may 
have been signaling to his constituents to prepare for a 
fast-approaching resolution -- perhaps as early as yearend. 
 
MILF Unified In Optimism 
------------------------ 
5.  (SBU) Chairman Murad, in his May 30th remarks and 
subsequent press conference, stressed the "new and fresh 
mandate" bestowed from the Bangsamoro people, according to 
transcripts provided to poloff.  As their "legitimate 
representative," he stressed their "life-long dream to 
establish and develop (their) homeland as a permanent legacy 
to the next generation."  Murad thanked GMA and Malaysia and 
Libya for supporting the peace process.  He appealed to 
Christians to "cast aside mistrust of your Bangsamoro 
brothers," adding the "dividends of peace will be shared by 
the whole constituency in our homeland regardless of tribal 
or religious considerations."  Regarding terrorism, Murad 
explicitly stressed, "We live for Islam and we will be most 
happy to die for Islam.  But lest we are misunderstood, allow 
me to clarify that the MILF is very much opposed to any form 
of terrorism.  On behalf of the MILF Central Committee let me 
state quite clearly, that terrorist (sic) and terrorism is 
incompatible with the MILF vision for the economic, cultural 
and political advancement of the Bangsamoro." 
 
6.  (C) High-ranking Central Committee members, Vice Chairman 
for Political Affairs Ghazali Jaafar and Vice Chairman for 
Military Affairs Aleem Abdul Aziz Mimbantas, parroted Murad's 
line.  (Comment: Mimbantas has been identified as a militant 
hard-liner, but the English translation of his remarks 
(delivered in Arabic) were temperate.  He invoked Koranic 
verses stressing that all Muslims are required to be 
peace-loving and to eschew violence that is "criminal, 
irrational, inexcusable, indiscriminate, and lawless." 
Copies of all transcripts will be faxed to EAP/PMBS.  End 
Comment.) 
 
7.  (C) MILF adviser Musib Buat, a close Embassy contact, 
told poloff June 1 that the event was very positive and 
optimistic.  According to Buat, the MILF held a private 
plenary session of "5,000 delegates" who supported a draft 
resolution endorsing the MILF's pursuit of a negotiated 
political settlement with the GRP on behalf of the Bangsamoro 
people.  He stressed the MILF did not discuss specific 
details of the negotiations, such as the ancestral domain 
question of proprietary land claims and rights.  Buat said 
these questions will come up for discussion in the next round 
of talks, tentatively slated for some time in June. 
 
Joint Terrorist Hunt Slow-Going 
------------------------------- 
 
8.  (C) Buat confirmed to poloff, media reports of MILF 
pledges to "hunt down 53 Islamic militants" using the Ad Hoc 
Joint Action Group (AHJAG) -- conceived in 2002 to jointly 
investigate and interdict suspected criminals and terrorists 
operating in MILF-influenced areas.  He underscored the MILF 
was "validating" a GRP-provided list of suspects and that the 
coordination process was ongoing.  (Comment: Since its 
inception, the AHJAG has been stymied due to mutual 
suspicions on both sides.  While a potential mechanism for 
interdicting suspected "lawless elements," it appears the 
AHJAG may not yet be capable of moving against certain 
individuals on the list, which includes suspected terrorists 
linked to the Jemmah Islamiyah (JI) and Abu Sayyaf Group 
(ASG).  End Comment.) 
 
Comment: Transforming The PR Victory Into A Lasting Peace? 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
9.  (C) The MILF has clearly renewed and reinforced its 
negotiating mandate.  By mobilizing its supporters, the MILF 
has gained legitimacy as a negotiating force in the eyes of 
its constituents and, perhaps most importantly, the GRP.  The 
MILF is likely to use this demonstration of legitimacy to 
strengthen its negotiating position in the upcoming talks, 
tentatively set to resume later in June 2005.  The MILF's 
public statements against terrorism are welcome, but not 
ground-breaking.  We have heard such public pledges before. 
To be credible, the MILF must take concerted and clear action 
against the terrorists sheltering in its midst.  End Comment. 
 
MUSSOMELI