US ambassador hopes Mindanao peace process would go forward
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 08/29/2008 10:01 AM
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US ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney on Friday said she is hopeful that the recent fighting in Mindanao would subside and that the peace process between the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would find a way to again go forward.
"It's an important part of the country for the Philippines, about a third of your land space, it's huge economic potential and I think we are all hopeful that there will be a good way found forward," said Kenney at the dzMM’s Dos por Dos program.
Kenney said that while the United States supports efforts for the resolution of the conflict, the issue has to be resolved by Filipinos themselves.
"It's something that outsiders can't fix for the Philippines. The Filipinos have to come up with a solution. I think what we all hope that all the diverse parties in Mindanao would find a way to come together and forge lasting peace so that they can realize the potential," said Kenney.
She belied reports that the United States have been directly involved in the conflict and the aborted Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) especially after she attended the supposed signing in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia early August.
"Our government wasn't part of that negotiations. It is a negotiation between Filipinos which Malaysia facilitated… US was not part of that talks," said the US ambassador.
She reiterated her previous explanations that she was invited but the Philippine government, along with other diplomats to attend what the Philippine government told her "an important moment in the peace process," adding that she dod not even know the contents of the MOA-AD much less have a copy of it at that time in Malaysia.
She also belied reports that American troops were involved in the fighting stating directly: "We don't want any Americans in harm’s way."
Kenney also denied that the Philippine government has requested US military support.
She admitted however that the recent fighting in areas of Mindanao have affected some of their development projects.
"There are some communities now that we cant do our development projects in because of the conflict. I can't risk having our workers hurt," said Kenney but added quickly that a lot of other development projects in Mindanao are continuing.
Kenney also said that the US government has "assured the Philippine government and everyone else that our development assistance is going to continue."
When asked if the US would advocate a ceasefire on the recent fighting, Kenney said that she believes that the government is striving to keep the military operations limited against "lawless activities and maintaining conditions for peace."
"I think the Armed Forces and the police are doing a very good job of bringing stability and order back. One of the requisites for peace is that you have conditions under which people can talk. Violence is never the answer, its never the right answer to engage in lawlessness. I think the military and police from what I can tell from this distance are working very hard to contain that without creating wider conflict. their idea now is that their actions would lead back to a pact, of talk negotiations," said Kenney.
Kenney, who admitted to previously visiting MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim in his camp at the request of the Philippine government ,said she believes that the MILF chief would pursue the peace option.
"I got the sense when I was there talking to him that he's the guy who feels peace is the right option, tired of fighting, tired of not having his people not having a prosperous life, said Kenney.
