GRP-MILF PEACE TALKS POSTPONED; LATEST NEWS

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