As a follow up to the "peace" negotiations. They representatives of the Philippine government and the MILF released a statment saying that they hoped a deal could be brokered by April. Obviousely, looking ahead of the end of the current Philippine President in May, the next Philippine President might not be as willing to work with the MILF. The Muslim population makes up only about %5 of the total population of the Philippines, the vast majority is Roman Catholic. The Roman Catholic majority is concerned about control of the land. The area of land under dispute is seen in the map in darker color. Most of the violence, kidnappings and bombings, have occured in the areas marked as "automomous" regions, particularly the Sulu archipelago.
To read more about the negotiations click HERE.

In related Philippine news, the Philippine government announced the what they believe is the complicity of 161 people in the massacre of a rival political clan. The Ampatuan family is believed to have been behind the massacre of 57 people, 30 of them journalists. The party was on their way to register to be on the ballot in the coming elections in May. The place of the massacre is in the Muslim controled province of Maguindanao, martial law has been declared for the region giving the police greater powers to detain and try to restore order.

For a news story about the current situation click HERE.

Please pray for peace and the will of the Lord be done for the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the coming elections. The vast majority of Phillipino people are peace loving and belive in religious freedom. The lives of many people who live in Mindanao will be affected for years to come by the decisions made this coming May.