Source: Inquirer 

By Edwin Fernandez, Nash Maulana
Inquirer
Last updated 02:36am (Mla time) 09/08/2007

COTABATO CITY—Calls for the resumption of the stalled peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) continue to grow louder.

On Wednesday, a ranking Japanese official also urged Malacañang to resume talking peace with the rebels.

Yasunori Nakayama, political affairs minister of the Japanese Embassy in Manila, made the call after a meeting with MILF chief Murad Ebrahim in Sultan Kudarat, Shariff Kabunsuan.

Nakayama told Murad and other MILF leaders that, like Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is also very concerned about the progress of the peace process between the government and MILF.

“Japan will extend substantial help for the progress of the peace process,” Nakayama said.

In airing his appeal, Nakayama said the good teamwork and tremendous accomplishments brought about by the ceasefire accord were indications the process is leading to something good for the people of Mindanao.

Earlier, US officials also issued the same appeal.

Recently, business organizations have also asked the government and the MILF to resume the negotiations so that Mindanao could move forward.

Undersecretary Virgilio Leretaña, chair of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco), admitted that the lack of peace in some parts of the island have hindered business and development.

During the two-day business conference in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao held from Sept. 4, business leaders said a concerted effort is needed to achieve peace in Mindanao.

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