Thursday, August 21, 2008 Lanao folk demand all-out war vs MILF By Ben O. Tesiorna
THOUSANDS of residents affected by the simultaneous raids made by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in two Lanao provinces this week have demanded that an all-out war be declared by the government against the MILF.
The Bishop-Ulama Conference (BUC), however, released an urgent appeal for sobriety, recognizing that the dawn attacks on helpless civilians, especially in Lanao del Norte, has stoked enmity among people.
The group of bishops and ulamas in Mindanao has also called on both the government and the MILF to stop the fighting and order their combatants back to "barracks."
In a meeting with Secretaries Gilberto Teodoro of Defense and Esperanza Cabral of the Social Welfare and Development, Iligan City officials led by Mayor Lawrence Cruz said it's high time that the government implement "force necessary to disarm the MILF rebels in Mindanao."
Cruz clarified that his call is for the total disarming of the MILF rebels and not necessarily total annihilation of the rebel group.
The mayor said the sentiment of the people of Iligan, Lanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur is however for the total annihilation of the MILF rebels, which he said, is understandable considering the horrible experience they had with the MILF raid in Kauswagan, Kolambugan, and Linamon towns.
Secretary Teodoro however told the local officials that an all-out war policy is not yet an option of the Arroyo administration.
He said the order of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for now, is to run after the groups of Abdullah Macapaar alias Kumander Bravo and Ameril Umbra Kato and not the entire organization of the MILF.
Teodoro said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) does not have the "blanket authority" in their pursuit against the MILF rebels.
He cautioned the soldiers to be very discreet and responsible in their military actions.
AFP vice chief of staff Lieutenant General Cardoso Luna meanwhile said that the peace process is still their primary option over all-out war.
He said that despite the go signal by the President for them to run after renegade MILF groups they are still doing their best to avoid incurring collateral damage.
Luna revealed that they could not conduct an all-out offensive against the group of Kumander Bravo in Lanao since the rebels are "hiding" in Muslim communities where many MILF rebels also reside.
"We are having a hard time in separating the civilians from the rebels in the Muslim communities. I don't want any collateral damage," Luna said.
Mayor Cruz meanwhile urged the government to at least give the MILF rebels in Lanao an ultimatum just like what happened in North Cotabato two weeks ago.
"There should be a deadline, if it is not met then necessary force tantamount to all-out war must be taken," he said.
He urged the national government to listen to the cries of the people of Lanao who are demanding for a stop on all the MILF atrocities in their provinces.
In a statement, the BUC said: they "earnestly and urgently appeal to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and to the Central Committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to put an immediate stop to the fighting between their respective combatants, to order them back to their barracks and headquarters, to release captives and hostages, and to arrive at an immediate ceasefire agreement."
The BUC is also appealing to the Philippine National Police, their Cafgus and CVUs as well as to the local MILF Security Forces to restore order in the affected areas in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte including the contiguous cities of Kidapawan and Iligan.
The group is also calling on the help of other agencies.
"We call on local, national and international aid agencies to provide immediate assistance to the displaced residents, and their damaged houses, chapels and properties, with special attention to the poor, the sick, the babies and the little children," the BUC said.
They are also appealing to all religious leaders in Mindanao: bishops, ulama, ai'mah, ustadzes, pastors, priests, religious men and women - to help in spreading their request.
The BUC is asking print and broadcast media to take utmost care in reporting and avoid unconfirmed rumors.
"Finally we respectfully remind everyone who believes and loves God, whom we call by many names, to intensify sustained personal and communal prayer accompanied by self sacrifices," the bishops and ulamas said.
The statement was signed by Fernando R. Capalla, archbishop of Davao, BUC Co-Convener; Hilario M. Gomez Jr., UCCP Bishop Emeritus, BUC Co-convener; and Hamid A. Barra, OIC Ulama League of the Philippines, BUC Co-convener.
