Peace talks between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government is heading towards an impasse unless the latter can prove its commitment to the process, said a source from the separatist movement.

"It is up to the government of (President) Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to jumpstart the talks by fulfilling their end of the bargain, such as the deployment of government soldiers from the camp of Buliok Complex," the source told malaysiakini over the weekend.

On Feb 11, the Philippine military attacked the MILF stronghold in Buliok Complex, North Cotabato, displacing in the process, as reported, 200,000 people living in the area.

Buliok Complex was also the headquarters of the late MILF chairperson Selamat Hashim.

Exploratory talks that took place between the parties early September in Kuala Lumpur agreed, among others, for the withdrawal of government forces from the strategically important Buliok Complex.

"We've agreed on the withdrawal of Philippine soldiers from the camp. Whoever controls Buliok also controls the Liguasan Marsh adjacent to it," said the source, who requested anonymity.

Broken promises

However, MILF is unhappy with the Philippine army's apparent recalcitrance in fulfilling their end of the promise.

"What they've done is gradually replace the soldiers from the Armed Forces with Marines from the Navy. Is that withdrawal?

"There are also reports of heavy fighting in the area of Sulu between government forces and the MILF. The Malaysian government is aware of this," added the source.

Malaysia hosted the six-year peace talks from 2001 between Manila and the 12,500-strong MILF - the biggest group of Muslim separatists fighting for independence in the southern region of Mindanao since 1978.

Both the Moro National Liberation Front and its offshoot the MILF, sat as observers last week at the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit in Putrajaya.

Government and rebel figures have long traded accusations of agreement violations.

Patience tested

In addition to the fighting in Sulu, online news magazine Mindanews recently reported that on Oct 15 Philippine soldiers from the 44th Infantry Battalion killed five MILF members in a firefight in the town of Sibuco, Zamboanga in western Mindanao.

However, the tone of recent statements by MILF seem to suggest that they have reached the end of their patience with what they perceive as the Philippine government's inability or unwillingness to control their military officers.

It was in referral to the above problems, particularly that of Sulu, that the OIC's Final Communique urged the Philippine government to "diligently end its military operations" in the south, claimed the source.

Regardless of resolutions reached at the OIC summit, the onus was on the Philippine government to fulfill its end of the bargain, he said.

"Whether its Arroyo's unwillingness or inability to rein in her military commanders, it's not doing the peace process any good," he added.

Furthermore, recent claims by the military's Civil Relation Service that 'some Arab-looking people' were allegedly seen going in and out of MILF strongholds have raised the ire of the rebel group for what they perceive as continuous efforts to link the movement with terrorist organisations.

'Terror links'

Another MILF source said the group was tiring of the constant attempts to connect them to criminal elements, citing efforts to blame kidnapping group Abu Sayyaf of certain crimes even after the group itself denied its involvement.

"We have nothing to do with the Abu Sayyaf and other rogue elements. Even when there's a bombing and the Abu Sayyaf deny their involvement, the government still insists it's the Abu Sayyaf and we are somehow connected," complained the source, who also declined to be named.

Present MILF chairperson Murad Ibrahim had said the renewed effort to link MILF with terrorist groups might derail the peace process and quest for a political solution to the armed conflict and the Bangsamoro problem.

"The renewed effort to link MILF with so-called terrorist groups is an unfortunate frame of mind apparently designed to complicate the peace process," he said in a statement early this month.

"We reject and deny any link with terrorist organisations or activities in this part of the Asian region, particularly in South Philippines, and elsewhere in the world."

The peace talks are tentatively scheduled to resume later this month.