Philippines Peace Deal With Muslim Rebels Collapses

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From L.A. Times:

ZAMBOANGA CITY, PHILIPPINES -- A tentative peace deal that came close to resolving decades of conflict between the Philippine military and Muslim insurgents collapsed Thursday after days of fierce fighting and an alleged massacre.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's government said it had canceled a landmark agreement reached recently with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the country's largest Muslim rebel group.

"The cancellation of the memorandum of agreement is a painful step in our collective effort to come to an agreement with the MILF," said a statement from Lorelei Fajardo, an Arroyo spokeswoman.

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My Comment: The deal was a capitulation to the Muslim insurgents on the Southern Island of Mindanao. When the details became public the Catholic majority realized that this would put them at a political, economic, and social disadvantage in the contested areas. This treaty was DOA.

The Muslim insurgents are themselves divided. Making any reconciliation impossible.