In Onward Muslim Soldiers I explain how the jihad ideology poisons possibilities for negotiated peace settlements in conflicts where they might otherwise have been possible. Here is more evidence of this, from the Philippines. From Deutsche Presse Agentur, with thanks to Ali Dashti:
MANILA – A leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf rebel group on Tuesday called on the largest Muslim separatist rebel group in the Philippines to abandon peace talks with the government and pursue the armed struggle for an independent Islamic state.
While peace talks between the Philippine government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have been suspended since 2003, the two sides are hoping to resume the negoatiations within the month.
“To our brothers in the MILF, don’t waive our nation’s honour, dignity and rights even in exchange for the whole world,” said Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Solaiman in a statement read over a Manila radio station.
“No amount of development can pay for our homeland’s illegal and immoral occupation or annexation,” added Solaiman, one of five Abu Sayyaf leaders wanted by the United States.
He also called on members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which signed a peace agreement with the Philippine government in 1996, to again take up arms and fight the “enemies of Islam”.