VZCZCXRO6413
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #2308/01 1900854
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 090854Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7324
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002308 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINS MARR RP
SUBJECT: DCM Pushes Peace Process in Mindanao Visit 
 
Ref:  MANILA 594 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: DCM and emboff visited the Cotabato area of 
Mindanao for the fourth time on June 20 through 22 for private 
meetings and public diplomacy to continue to  build support for the 
peace process and prepare for the Ambassador's visit of July 9-10. 
In a private meeting with MILF Vice-Chair Ghazali Jafaar, DCM 
emphasized that the "time is now" for the MILF and the government to 
make the tough compromises on a peace agreement, and for leaders of 
all of Mindanao's diverse communities to come together to define 
Mindanao's future governance (septel).  DCM repeated this message in 
private meetings with Cotabato Mayor and MNLF Secretary General 
Sema, 6th Infantry Division Commander Ferrer, and local government 
and civil society leaders.  He conveyed the message publicly at 
three separate inaugurations of USAID projects, attended by local 
leaders and the media.  DCM visited two ongoing projects by the crew 
of the visiting USS Peleliu working hand-in-hand with the Philippine 
Armed Forces -- a new schoolhouse and a MEDCAP offering free medical 
care in remote villages outside Cotabato.  DCM received briefings 
and showed U.S. support for a successful local conflict management 
mechanism in a region of recent fighting over land disputes 
(septel).  He called on the Malaysian-led International Monitoring 
Team, which monitors the ceasefire with the MILF.  At all events, 
DCM offered assurances that U.S. support, as well as private sector 
development,  would grow further when the missing piece of an MILF 
peace agreement is put into place. END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------ 
The Military Perspective 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) In a relaxed, intimate one hour discussion, DCM and 6th 
Infantry Division Commander Major General Raymundo Ferrer discussed 
the prospects for peace, together with the commander of the U.S. 
JSOTF detachment in Cotabato.  Ferrer suggested that JSOTF would 
gain further acceptance and access among local Muslims if it were 
seen as working together with the Malaysian-led International 
Monitoring Team.  He privately lamented the enormous political 
power, wealth and arms of the local Muslim Ampatuan clan, which 
complicated the prospects for peace.  In a subsequent one-on-one 
meeting with Brigadier General Ed Gurrea, who co-chairs the 
Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, DCM heard 
similar views.  (Comment:  Generals Ferrer and Guerrea are just two 
examples of experienced, peace-advocating commanders placed in key 
Mindanao positions by the Philippine Armed Forces. End Comment)  DCM 
paid his third office call on the Malaysian-led International 
Monitoring Team headquarters in Cotabato, underscoring U.S. support 
for its mission and receiving an updated briefing of the activities 
of the 60 person military monitoring team, which also includes 
representatives from Brunei and Libya as well as a development 
official from Japan. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
Development and Humanitarian Assistance 
Helps Create Environment for Peace 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶3. (U) The DCM inaugurated three USAID assistance projects in two 
Central Mindanao provinces and the city of Cotabato.  A CLIC 
(Computer Literacy and Internet Connection) event at a rural school 
perched on rolling agricultural land in the ethnically mixed 
province of North Cotabato celebrated the receipt of internet access 
via microwave dishes and donated computers for some 250 students who 
had previously little contact with the outside world.  A ribbon 
cutting for a water system nearby MILF headquarters in Shariff 
Kabunsuan Province was attended by local Muslim residents, a newly 
reelected congressman, and media.  Muslim school children, dancing 
in native attire, and a marching band greeted the U.S. visitors at 
Notre Dame Elementary school in Cotabato city, where 130 school 
principals and parent teacher presidents had traveled great 
distances from across Central Mindanao to receive a total of over 
125,000 donated text books.  At each of these events, DCM 
underscored our shared interest in the development and success of 
Mindanao. 
 
¶4. (U) The DCM visited two of the USS Peleliu's projects (part of 
the Pacific Partnership) in remote villages outside Cotabato City. 
At the ENGCAP in Datu Andung, U.S. and Filipino soldiers were 
constructing a new elementary school room, while intrigued local 
residents watched the progress.  Down the road at the local high 
school, DCM and party visited hundreds of grateful local residents 
receiving free medical, dental, and veterinary care and supplies 
from doctors and medical staff of the USS Peleliu working side by 
side with Filipino volunteer doctors, nurses, and interpreters. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Pushing Peace Through Local Leaders 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
 
MANILA 00002308  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) In separate, private meetings with Abhoud Lingga of the 
Institute of Bangsamoro Studies and Ishak Mastura, Secretary for 
Trade and Industry of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, DCM 
discussed how to reconcile differences among the diverse and 
fractious Muslim, Christian, and native Lumad communities of western 
Mindanao.  He sought to dispel notions that the U.S. was only 
interested in neutralizing terrorists and overcoming poverty, 
allegedly neglecting the need for political resolutions to Muslim 
grievances.  While Lingga questioned the value of U.S. JSOTF 
soldiers in Central Mindanao, Mastura offered unconventional praise. 
 He expressed belief that local cooperation between JSOTF and the 
Philippine Armed Forces, as well as U.S. support for Philippine 
Defense Reform, gave Philippine Forces the confidence to avoid 
hard-line tactics that alienated local populations and undermined 
the peace process.  He added, however, that few local residents were 
sophisticated enough to recognize this benefit. 
 
KENNEY