VZCZCXRO0226
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #1747/01 1110649
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 210649Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0626
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 001747 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, INR/TNC, S/CT 
SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP FOR ALLEN 
NSC FOR MORROW 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2016 
TAGS: PINS PTER PREL KISL MY RP
SUBJECT: MILF WELCOMES REGULAR DIALOGUE WITH US EMBASSY 
 
REF: 05 MANILA 5372 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (S/NF) Summary:  In a second meeting with poloffs, Moro 
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Vice Chairman for Political 
Affairs Ghazali Jafaar confirmed that MILF-GRP negotiations 
for a political settlement will begin after both parties sign 
a written agreement on ancestral domain, and noted that the 
MILF is now also seeking the endorsement of imprisoned Moro 
National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari for the GRP-MILF 
peace process.  He explained that the MILF had already 
established a "parallel government" within Muslim communities 
throughout Mindanao, but cited needs for capacity building 
for the governance of a future "Bangsamoro homeland" and for 
the implementation of a comprehensive peace pact.  These will 
require assistance from the international community, he 
emphasized.  The MILF wants to expand the membership and role 
of the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) once 
an agreement is signed.  Jafaar offered discreet assistance 
in bringing to justice wanted terrorists and terrorist 
financiers.  Our dialogue can be useful in holding out the 
prospect for US assistance in the wake of a GRP-MILF 
agreement in support of peace and development, thereby 
isolating more radical elements within the MILF.  It will 
remain important that the MILF continues to take steps to 
distance itself from terrorism.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------- 
No Timetable for MILF 
--------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) On April 18, poloffs met for the second time (reftel 
described initial meeting in November 2005) with MILF Vice 
Chairman for Political Affairs Ghazali Jafaar and MILF member 
Abu Dubaya at the MILF's Peace Negotiations Headquarters in 
Sultan Kudurat City, Maguindanao Province, Mindanao.  Jafaar 
welcomed a regular dialogue with the U.S. Embassy and 
expressed keen interest in receiving U.S. assistance for 
post-conflict Mindanao.  Jafaar identified the next steps in 
the MILF-GRP peace process as the signing of a written 
agreement on ancestral domain, after which negotiations would 
begin for a political settlement to the decades-old conflict. 
 
 
¶3.  (C) Jafaar did not give any MILF timetable for this 
process.  According to Jafaar, the MILF will only sign a pact 
that contains provisions acceptable to the MILF Central 
Committee.  In addition to ancestral domain, Jafaar cited 
governance and "nationality" as subjects that still required 
clarification. 
 
----------------------------- 
Seeking Misuari's Endorsement 
----------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Jafaar also explained that the MILF is now seeking 
the endorsement of former Moro National Liberation Front 
(MNLF) leader Nur Misuari, currently on trial in Manila, for 
the MILF-GRP peace process.  Talks are underway between the 
MILF and MNLF to arrive at "common solutions" to "issues" 
that could affect future MILF-MNLF relations, he added. 
While these discussions continue to focus on "unity," an 
organizational reunification is not possible, according to 
Jafaar.  Jafaar said the MILF's main objective was to ensure 
broad support for a peace agreement.  (Septel will describe 
the views of Cotabato City Mayor and member of the MNLF 
Council of Fifteen Muslimin Sema on Nur Misuari and 
developments within the MNLF.) 
 
--------------------------------- 
Need for International Assistance 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) The MILF has already established its own "parallel 
government" within Muslim communities throughout Mindanao, 
Jafaar admitted, including representatives from all sectors 
of society, such as business, farming, and fishing.  Jafaar 
noted that MILF leaders at all levels are now discussing how 
best to prepare themselves for the transition from conflict 
to peace.  Capacity building for MILF leaders will be 
critical to govern effectively a future "Bangsamoro 
 
MANILA 00001747  002 OF 002 
 
 
homeland;" the international community, including the USG, 
should play a helpful role in this regard, he urged.  Jafaar 
also stressed the importance of having a "credible 
international organization" to monitor the implementation of 
an agreement after signature, pointing to what he described 
as the GRP's failure fully to implement its 1996 agreement 
with the MNLF. 
 
-------------------- 
Expansion of the IMT 
-------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C)  Jafaar expressed satisfaction with Malaysia's role 
-- especially the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team 
(IMT) -- in the GRP-MILF peace process, noting that the IMT 
had been instrumental in reducing the number of skirmishes on 
the ground.  Jafaar said that, once an agreement is signed, 
the MILF Central Committee wants the IMT not only to remain 
in Mindanao but to take on an expanded role -- including 
economic development -- and expand its membership, such as 
from the European Union. 
 
¶7.  (C)  Jafaar also expressed support for the MILF-GRP Ad 
Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), headed on the GRP side by 
Armed Forces of the Philippines Brigadier General Mohammad 
Bin Dolorfino.  He claimed that the AHJAG had already been 
very successful in kidnapping cases and continues to play an 
important role in reinforcing the MILF-GRP ceasefire.  He 
promised to provide a recent report detailing AHJAG's 
activities. 
 
----------------------- 
Will the MILF Splinter? 
----------------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) When asked about the potential of the MILF 
splintering over a peace agreement with the GRP, Jafaar 
dodged the question, saying that "every organization that 
practices democracy will experience disagreement."  According 
to Jafaar, MILF members who have different opinions are 
eventually "persuaded" through a process of discussion. 
 
-------------------- 
Targeting Terrorists 
-------------------- 
 
¶9.  (S/NF)  Poloffs noted that top Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and 
Abu Sayyaf (ASG) leaders had relocated from Central Mindanao 
to the Sulu Archipelago in November 2005, and expressed the 
hope that this was indeed at the instigation of the MILF 
leadership.  They strongly emphasized that the MILF still 
needed to do more to demonstrate that even "elements" within 
the MILF had cut their ties with terrorist organizations, 
including financiers.  Jafaar carefully noted this point, and 
promised to provide discreet assistance. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶10.  (C)  This second meeting was informal, relaxed, and 
limited to only two members of the MILF leadership.  Jafaar 
was clearly interested in engaging in a regular ongoing 
dialogue with the Embassy.  We will proceed on an ad hoc 
basis, and perhaps next expand to include representatives 
from USAID and RSO, as long as we continue to see signs that 
the MILF is further distancing itself from terrorism and 
terrorist elements, and engaging in good faith negotiations 
with the GRP.  Our discussions can be useful in holding out 
the prospect for US assistance in the wake of a GRP-MILF 
agreement in support of peace and development, thereby 
isolating more radical elements within the MILF. 
Kenney