Saudi Arabia joins observer group on Moro peace talks

Manila: Saudi Arabia joined three other foreign countries that have been observing the peace talks between the Philippine government and a former separatist Filipino-Muslim group, a source said.

The government of Saudi Arabia sent a letter to Malaysia's Foreign Ministry office accepting an invitation to be part of the International Contact Group (ICG) which was created to observe and call for the implementation of the peace settlements forged by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a foreign affairs department source said.

Saudi Arabia became part of the ICG in December, following its acceptance of the offer in November, said the source who requested anonymity.

Saudi Arabia joined ICG's other member countries such as Britain, Japan, and Turkey, including several foreign non government organisations.

Last year, the Philippine government and the MILF agreed to form ICG, an independent body that will see to it that the peace settlement will be properly implemented.

This was done since the Philippine Supreme Court ruled in 2008, that the proposed land deal to be signed by the Philippine government and the MILF in Malaysia was unconstitutional.

Attack

The ruling prompted three renegade MILF commanders to attack civilian villages, killing hundreds and displacing 750,000 residents.

Since then, informal peace talks were held by the two parties.

In late May 2010, the Philippine government and the MILF signed an interim agreement saying that the administration of newly elected president Benigno Aquino should continue the holding peace talks.

The 12,000-strong MILF ended its secessionist stance since it responded to the peace initiative of the Philippine government in 1997.

In 1978, it began an armed struggle for the establishment of an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines.