Palace says Indonesia commits to helping PHL resolve Zamboanga standoff

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 17): Palace says Indonesia commits to helping PHL resolve Zamboanga standoff

The Indonesian government has agreed to help the Philippines in resolving the Zamboanga standoff by opening the lines of communication between the government and the Moro National Liberation Misuari faction, the Palace said Tuesday.

Indonesia has facilitated the review of the implementation of the 1996 peace agreement with the MNLF.

In a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, quoting a statement from Peace adviser Teresita Deles, said it is the Philippine government, which seeks the help of Indonesia in ending the Zamboanga incident by facilitating communication between the government and the MNLF.

Lacierda said the Indonesian government gave instructions to its embassy in Manila on its role.

“Embassy officials explained to us that this meant that their lines would be open to receive and transmit messages, from one side to the other, that they did not see it to be within their role to proactively make a call to either side,” Lacierda said quoting Deles.

“We relayed to Indonesia last Tuesday and to the entire OIC Peace Committee last Thursday our request that they could help in any way in resolving the incident. None of the aide countries present offered a proposal.”

Indonesia has not received any information from the MNLF about its interest to end the standoff, Lacierda said.

Last week, Indonesia received a message from the Misuari group about travel arrangements to attend the meeting in Yogjakarta until they asked for postponement of the meeting last Thursday.

President Benigno S. Aquino III remains in Zamboanga City being the country’s commander-in-chief.

Lacierda said the President continues to give support and directions as well as boost the morale of soldiers fighting the MNLF.

The President is confident that the armed forces could soon end the crisis. The people of Zamboanga appreciate his presence there, Lacierda said.

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