US embassy cable - 05MANILA3435

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 003435 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/PMBS, INR/EAP, S/CT, USIP - SOLOMON 
NSC FOR GREEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PTER, PINR, KISL, MY, RP 
SUBJECT: GRP-MILF PEACE TALKS POSTPONED; LATEST NEWS 
REGARDING TERRORISM 
 
REF: A. OPS CENTER - MANILA 07/27/05 TELCON 
     B. MANILA 3391 
     C. MANILA 3350 
     D. MANILA 2785 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Joseph Saus 
for Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (S) Summary:  The latest round of exploratory talks 
between the GRP and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 
have been postponed.  The talks -- which are being 
facilitated by the Malaysian government -- were scheduled to 
be held on July 25 in Kuala Lumpur and appear to have been 
postponed due to scheduling conflicts on the Malaysian side. 
In other Mindanao-related news, recent joint Armed Forces of 
the Philippines (AFP)-MILF efforts to intercept Abu Sayyaf 
Group (ASG) and Jemmah Islamiyah (JI) elements remain 
inconclusive.  National Security Adviser Gonzales has 
announced that the GRP has foiled a bomb plot and is seeking 
10 suspected suicide bombers.  Mission is trying to confirm 
the report.  Despite the postponement, most observers remain 
confident that the talks are on track and will resume 
relatively soon.  End Summary. 
 
KL Talks Postponed 
------------------ 
 
2.  (C) The 9th Round of GRP-MILF exploratory talks have been 
postponed.  The talks -- which are being facilitated by the 
Malaysian government -- were scheduled to take place July 25 
in Kuala Lumpur (ref c).  GRP Peace Panel Secretariat 
Chairman Ryan Sullivan told poloff that both the GRP and the 
MILF were ready to meet on July 25 as planned, but that 
scheduling conflicts involving the Malaysian government 
prompted the postponement.  MILF technical adviser, Musib 
Buat, predicted to poloff separately that the talks would 
reconvene in mid-August, although media reports suggest a 
longer delay, perhaps as long as two months.  MILF Peace 
Panel member Maulana Alonto informed poloff that the 
postponement was also attributable to "the political mess in 
Manila, among other things."  While contacts have not been 
able to confirm it, the general view is that the Malaysian 
government may have decided that the talks were best 
postponed at this time due to the ongoing political 
turbulence in Manila.  (Note:  The Opposition filed 
impeachment charges against Arroyo on July 25 and Arroyo -- 
amid a large Opposition rally -- gave her annual State of the 
Nation Address the same day -- see ref b.  End Note.) 
 
AFP-MILF Continue Joint Efforts 
------------------------------- 
 
3.  (S) The AFP and MILF are still coordinating information 
and operations in pursuit of ASG and JI members at large in 
the coastal region of Maguindanao Province in central 
Mindanao.  Major Dickson Hermoso, Secretariat Chairman of the 
GRP Delegation to the Coordinating Committees on the 
Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), told poloff July 19 that the 
AFP and MILF have recently established a Joint Monitoring 
Assistance Center (JMAC) in Talayan municipality in 
Maguindanao to coordinate operations and prevent accidental 
skirmishes between their forces.  The JMAC includes the CCCH, 
GRP and MILF members of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group -- 
AHJAG (ref d), and the Malaysian-led International Monitoring 
Team (IMT). 
 
4.  (S) The AFP has told us that AFP helicopters in the 
Maguindanao area have recently been shot at by small arms. 
The helicopters were not seriously damaged, contrary to press 
reports, and there were no casualties.  According to Hermoso, 
small skirmishes on the ground continue, while the ASG and JI 
suspects remain at-large.  He asserted that a local MILF 
commander, Zainuddin, is harboring suspects in exchange for 
bribes.  The MILF is investigating the purported involvement 
of Zainuddin in providing safe-haven for terrorists, Hermoso 
added. 
 
National Security Adviser's Remarks 
------------------------------------ 
 
5.  (C) On July 26, National Security Advisor Norberto 
Gonzales told local media that, aided by intelligence from 
neighboring countries, GRP security forces had foiled a plot 
for a major attack in the Philippines.  He added that the 
Philippine National Police (PNP) were hunting 10 suspected 
suicide bombers.  No further information was provided. 
During the interview with ANC Television, Gonzales also 
pushed for the swift passage of a comprehensive 
anti-terrorism law.  (Note:  President Arroyo called on 
Congress to quickly pass an anti-terrorism law in her State 
of the Nation Address on July 25, a point she reiterated 
during a televised press conference on July 27.  End Note.) 
Mission is trying to confirm the report regarding the bomb 
plot and suspected suicide bombers, and is reviewing 
materials in other channels. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
6.  (C) Despite the postponement, most observers remain 
confident that the talks are on track and will resume 
relatively soon.  Although the political tensions continue to 
percolate in Manila, the matter of how to handle Mindanao has 
not been part of the controversy and there is widespread 
support for the talks.  The pursuit of ASG and JI high-value 
targets remains a slow process.  The positive news is that 
AFP-MILF coordination appears to be solidifying.  In regard 
to Gonzales' statements, suicide bombing is by no means the 
normal modus operandi in the Philippines.  One purpose of the 
remarks may have been to spur support for the proposed 
anti-terrorism legislation. 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/ 
 
MUSSOMELI