The Philippine government and a large Muslim rebel group signed an accord pledging not to target civilians and to protect schools and hospitals, an indication of improving relations after years of conflict, officials said yesterday.
The agreement, signed in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, aims to avoid massive civilian suffering in the southern Philippines, where hundreds were killed and more than half a million displaced when peace talks collapsed last year.
“The next logical move is to resume the peace negotiations,” said Eid Kabalu, spokesman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Both sides will discuss measures to enforce the accord once formal talks resume later this year, including international monitors, government negotiator Rafael Seguis said.
“It’s aimed at preventing massive numbers of internally displaced persons,” he said.
Displaced civilians have born the brunt of the conflict, which has claimed at least 120,000 lives since the 1970s.
In the agreement, both sides committed not to target noncombatants, along with “schools, hospitals, religious premises, health and food distribution centers, or relief operations.” They also agreed not to block the flow of food aid and other relief goods.
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