Wednesday, August 27, 2008 MILF disarmament illogical: Murad
THE total disarmament of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members before peace negotiations would be pursued is totally illogical, said MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim.
Ebrahim issued the statement as he described the precondition demanded by the government to the rebel group before it would resume any negotiations.
"The MILF will never disarm just to proceed with negotiation. If we disarm, that means the MILF had already surrendered to the government and therefore no more negotiation needed. If the government cannot manage to address the proliferation of illegal firearms which violates existing laws of the land, how could it disarm a revolutionary organization like the MILF," Murad said during last week's press conference at the MILF's Camp Darapanan.
Murad said the Demobilization, Disarmament, and Reintegration (DDR) must only be tackled as the last agenda for the negotiation and it will only be fulfilled when there is the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Compact.
"But it is not only the MILF that will be subjected to DDR but also all the non-authorized and non-constitutional bodies or entities that take hold of firearms," Murad said.
Murad also echoed the sentiment of many MILF rebels never to surrender commanders Ameril Umbra Kato and Abdullah Macapaar alias Commander Bravo.
"It must be understood that MILF is a revolutionary organization. The only relationship that binds the government and MILF is the ongoing peace process. Only when we had forged a comprehensive peace pact with the government that the MILF will be subjected to government laws and regulations. And as far as we know, there is no single agreement reached by the government and MILF that explicitly says that the MILF shall surrender its commanders or any member to the government for whatever ground and circumstance," he said.
Murad hinted that the surrender of the two commanders is still possible with the use of the peace process mechanisms particularly on the ceasefire for the present issues confronting MILF commanders.
He warned though that if the government insists by using force "then we have no choice but to defend ourselves".
"It is incumbent to anybody to defend oneself when being assaulted. That's why it is still better for the two parties to tackle issues by talking and not by forces and dictates or else we cannot come up with common minds and actions," Murad said. (BOT)
