Saturday, July 28, 2007 Editorial: Limiting the conflict
THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is making a mountain out of a molehill by warning the government that military action in Basilan against the MILF fighters who ambushed a contingent of Philippine Marines in the town of Al-Barka last June 10 could trigger an escalation of hostilities in other areas of Mindanao.
The Philippine military has averred that it is only interested in bringing the attackers to justice to answer for the killing of 14 Marines (10 of whom were beheaded/mutilated), and nine other injured Marines.
Although the MILF had earlier admitted having ambushed the soldiers, the separatist organization denied involvement in the grisly beheadings-mutilations, and has refused to surrender the attackers to the government.
Being a mission that is limited to apprehending only the perpetrators of the crime and not the entire MILF, there is no reason for the rest of the rebel organization to widen the field of conflict. Refusal to surrender the attackers amounted to the MILF thumbing its nose at the military and virtually challenging the Marines to "come and get them."
What has been overlooked here is the fact that the attack was uncalled for, with the added aggravation involving the barbaric act of beheading and mutilating the dead which is a gross violation of international law. If the MILF will not surrender the perpetrators of the dastardly deed, then the Marines will have to do it -- and may the rest of the MILF not stand in the way.
The isolated incident (ambush) and isolated punitive action should not stand in the way of the overall GRP-MILF peace process. Hence, if the Muslim separatists are sincere in forging a just and lasting peace with the government, they should refrain from adding fuel to the fire in Basilan.
That is, if the MILF really wants peace in Mindanao.
