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Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Tribal wars trigger evacuation in C. Mindanao
By Ben O. Tesiorna
TWO separate tribal wars in Central Mindanao have triggered evacuation of hundreds of families from the area.
About 300 families in Maguindanao reportedly fled their villages following clashes between Tausug and Maguindanao clans over land dispute.
The fighting broke out last week as the two tribal groups laid claims over at least four fishing villages.
Army's 6th Infantry Battalion chief Julieto Ando said affected areas are barangays Lapaken, Bakayawan, Resa and Kinimi in the newly-created town of Datu Blah Sinsuat, which is adjacent to North Upi.
Reports claim that the recent clashes are offshoot of decades-old animosity between the two Moro tribes that was rekindled when the affected villages became part of Datu Blah on July 4.
The villages were part of North Upi before the creation of Datu Blah Sinsuat.
The Tausugs, natives of Sulu and Tawi-tawi, have settled in the fishing villages for at least 40 years now.
Soldiers were already sent to the area to deter further clashes between the two groups as negotiations were being prepared to end the feud.
In Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, violence between Moro residents and Christian settlers is also brewing after Christian members of a local militia group allegedly shot and killed a Moro leader in Barangay Badjangon last July 13.
The Moro villagers reportedly retaliated by attacking a Christian community in Barangay Banayan two days after.
Authorities are now negotiating with the two factions to ease the tension.
The militiamen involved in the July 13 killing were arrested while the leader of the Moro group that attacked the Christian neighborhood has also yielded.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (July 25, 2006 issue)
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