World | Philippines
Rebels seek help from Angelina Jolie
A major Muslim group invited Hollywood star Angelina Jolie to personally witness the plight of some 500,000 civilians who were displaced by the resumption of clashes between government and rebel forces in the south since last August, a local paper said.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
- Published: 23:32 September 26, 2008
Manila: A major Muslim group invited Hollywood star Angelina Jolie to personally witness the plight of some 500,000 civilians who were displaced by the resumption of clashes between government and rebel forces in the south since last August, a local paper said.
Jolie, an ambassador of goodwill of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has the power to "call for the end of civil war in Mindanao," Eid Kabalu, civil-military affairs chief of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, told the Inquirer.
"Everybody is welcome in helping resolve the problem of Muslims and Christians in the south," Kabalu said. Explaining the importance of Jolie to the Front, Kabalu said, "Calling on her is good so we can defend our organisation."
"The government said before they were giving priority to peace talks and now they are at the United Nations to complain about us," Kabalu explained.
The government and the rebels have stopped their 10-year-old negotiations last August. Clashes in the south resumed after a proposed land deal failed.
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