INTRA-MILF CLASHES / PEACE TALK ON IN MALAYSIA
[PHOTO - An MILF freedom fighter
looks on as his companion cleans his weapon at their base in the southern
Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)]
MANILA,
NOVEMBER 4, 2011 (TRIBUNE)
By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan - From all-out justice, the government has shifted to a
hands-off retreat in the spate of violence in Mindanao as the Palace declared
yesterday government forces would not intervene in skirmishes between Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels and the group of expelled MILF commander
Ameril Umbra Kato.
Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte reasoned the only concern of the
government would be ensuring the safety of the civilian population that might be
caught in between the two warring MILF factions for the government to become a
fence sitter in the clash among MILF factions.
Valte, at the same time, expressed hope that negotiators from both the
government and the MILF would be able to find a "way forward" when they resume
negotiations and thresh out kinks in the peace talks, particularly the alleged
misencounter in Al-Barka, Basilan that killed 19 soldiers.
The MILF, however, admitted it was it was responsible for the attacks that
killed 19 members of the Army's elite special forces blaming the soldiers'
encroachment on so-called area of temporary stay (ATS) stronghold of the rebels
in Basilan.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), nevertheless, said it will
continue law enforcement operations in Mindanao region despite the resumption of
talks between the government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels in Malaysia.
At a press briefing, AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., however,
stressed that the military remains fully-supportive of the peace initiatives of
the government with the MILF, which is accused of coddling wanted criminals like
Dan Laksaw Asnawi who was tagged in the killing of 19 elite Army troops in Al
Barka, Basilan.
"The AFP continues to support all peace initiatives and efforts of the
government. We will exhaust all avenues leading to just and lasting peace," said
Burgos.
Burgos, however, stressed that the military and police law enforcement
operations against lawless elements of the MILF will continue despite the
ongoing talks. Burgos said that AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. is now
in Western Mindanao to ensure stability in the area.
The two panels met in Kuala Lumpur for informal talks yesterday, the first
meeting after last month's series of clashes between governmet troops and
alleged MILF members in several areas in Mindanao.
Valte added the government panel will reiterate its request to the MILF to
cooperate on the efforts to pursue lawless elements.
"President Aquino said in his statement last week to cooperate and that we
are—they have been informed that the MILF is not being targeted as an entity,
rather, this is a law enforcement operation to pursue lawless elements and that
anybody who will be caught giving shelter or coddling these lawless elements
will likewise be liable," she said.
Government peace panel chairman Mavic Leonen confirmed an informal executive
meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between the government and the MILF.
"A candid exchange was held in the meeting where both sides cleared the air
about pressing issues regarding the negotiations. We leveled off more on each
other's concepts and identified our common grounds as well as our differences.
As we had hoped, we agreed to move forward on the substantive agenda and meet
again very soon for this purpose," he said.
Regarding the recent incidents most particularly in Al Barka, Basilan, we
agreed that investigations through the ceasefire mechanisms shall continue to be
conducted, Leonen added.
He said that the probe will be conducted by the International Monitoring Team
(IMT) in coordination with the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of
Hostilities (JCCCH) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG).
"Further, the MILF reaffirmed that it will cooperate with government with
respect to its efforts to interdict kidnap-for-ransom groups, criminal
syndicates, and 'lost commands'," according to Leonen.
MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said the peace
panels met for an "executive meeting" primarily, for the MILF, to discuss
political solution to the Bangsamoro problem.
"There is no agenda but as far as the MILF is concerned, our priority is to
discuss the political solution to the problem of the Bangsamoro people. I cannot
go into details but that is what we want to happen," said Jaafar.
"I do not want to predict this very important issue so we will wait of the
result of the meeting," added Jaafar.
Jaafar said that MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal led the MILF panel in
the executive meeting.
Talks between the government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF went into
deadlock last August after the MILF panel rejected the government's proposed
draft agreement, branding it as very far from the sub-state being sought by the
separatist group.
Prior to the formal talks last August, President Aquino and MILF chieftain Al
Haj Murad "secretly" met in Japan where Murad personally discussed the proposed
MILF sub-state to the President. The two parties then agreed to fast-track the
negotiations.
The MILF went on declare not to resume the formal talks unless the wide gap
in the proposed drafts is bridged, through the Malaysian third party
facilitator.
According to Jaafar, the MILF-Central Committee decided to attend yesterday's
meeting.
"The central committee believes that this is the best thing for the committee
to do to agree to a meeting," said Jaafar.
He said that the MILF panel's attendance to the "executive meeting" only
shows its commitment and optimism to the peace talks.
"As long as we agree to a negotiated political solution, this means that we
are optimistic," said Jaafar.
Asked if the case of MILF commander Dan Laksaw Asnawi, who was tagged in the
Oct. 18 killing of 19 members of the 13th and 19th SF Companies in Al Barka
town, Basilan, would be taken up during the Kuala Lumpur dialog, Jaafar replied
"I cannot comment on that."
Jaafar also refused to issue further statements as to the government's demand
for the MILF leadership to surrender Asnawi, deputy commander of the MILF's
114th Base Command.
"We will not comment on that, we have talked so much regarding that…we have
been explaining this for 10 days already so that's enough. We believe we are
clearly understood by the public," said Jaafar.
For its part, the AFP expressed hopes that the recent issues between the
military and the MILF would be taken up during the talks.
At a press briefing, Burgos said the military is optimistic on the resumption
of the talks.
"We're confident that the issues that transpired in the past, the demands and
protest we lodged, will be discussed. We expect progress on ongoing peace
talks," said Burgos.
"The law enforcement operations will be comprehensive. The chief of staff
emphasizes the primacy of the peace process, protection of human rights and
observance of rule of law and rules of engagement in all operations," added
Burgos.
Burgos maintained that the law enforcement operations in some parts of
Mindanao, particularly in Basilan, are not aimed against the MILF.
There were several armed confrontations between the military and some
elements of the MILF in various parts of Mindanao during the past weeks,
starting with thekilling of 19 Special Forces soldiers in Al Barka town by the
group of Asnawi, Abu Sayyaf leaders Long Malat and Hasan Jamiri.
Two days later, the group of MILF leader Waning Abdulsalam staged separate
ambushes in Zamboanga Sibugay province, killing eight soldiers and policemen.
The military responded by launching massive air and ground strike against
Abdusalam's lair in Payao town for four days, resulting in the capture of the
group's highly-fortified encampment in Barangay Labatan.
FROM THE STAR
Gov't, MILF peace panels meet in Kuala Lumpur By
Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated November 04, 2011 12:00 AM
MANILA,
Philippines - The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
negotiating panels resumed yesterday informal peace talks in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, after the Oct. 18 incident in Basilan where MILF rebels killed 19
soldiers during an encounter.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Presidential Adviser on
the Peace Process Teresita Deles reported that the government panel led by chief
negotiator Marvic Leonen would bring up the Basilan incident during the informal
talks.
"We are hopeful that we will find a way forward with the peace talks," Valte
said.
Valte said President Aquino's position was that "we will continue to push for
the peace talks" while the military was pursuing criminal elements in Mindanao.
"They have been informed that the MILF is not being targeted as an entity,
rather, this is a law enforcement operation to pursue lawless elements and that
anybody who will be caught giving shelter or coddling these lawless elements
will likewise be liable," Valte said.
Deles said last Saturday that the talks were not formal just like in August
when the MILF did not approve of the government's proposal for a genuine
autonomy as opposed to the MILF's demand to establish a sub-state in Mindanao.
"But we could see that there are common grounds between the two, so what we
are saying is we should talk on how we can continue with the substantive agenda
that we really want to pursue, the substantive (matters) to come up with an
agreement and find a lasting solution (to this problem)," Deles said.
Deles said it would be good for the two panels to meet on the Basilan
incident for the sake of accountability.
"Accountability must be exacted if needed so such kind of incident will not
happen again. The prospects remain positive. We are confident there will be a
face-to-face, informal, not full panel meeting," Deles said.
She explained that the informal meetings would have to be held in Malaysia,
the third party facilitator, but the government panel would propose that the
talks be held once they had deepened and touched on substantive issues.
Meanwhile, MILF vice chair for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said MILF
chairman Ibrahim Al Haj Murad leads the rebel negotiating team.
"I do not want to predict this very important issue. So we will just wait of
the result of the meeting," Jafaar said.
Jaafar said that as far as the MILF is concerned, high on their agenda is the
political solution to the problems of the Bangsamoro people.
The Kaula Lumpur meeting was held amid the prevailing tension between the
military and MILF rebels in several areas of Mindanao, especially in Basilan,
Zamboanga Sibugay, Sulu.
The President ordered offensive operations against lawless elements including
MILF guerrillas involved in the killing of 19 Army Special Forces soldiers in
Basilan last Oct. 18 after government troopers encountered MILF fighters
belonging to the 114th Base Command under Commander Dan Laksaw-Asnawi.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and other lawmakers have called for the
transfer of the venue of the peace talks from Malaysia to the Philippines.
Several military commanders have supported Enrile's call, though the official
stand of the Armed Forces of Philippines (AFP) on the issue is in full support
of the government's peace undertakings.
"The AFP continues to support all peace initiatives and efforts of the
government. We will exhaust all avenues leading to just and lasting peace," said
AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos. – With Jaime
Laude
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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