Friday, August 29, 2008 Big guns silent but skirmishes continue By Ben O. Tesiorna
HEAVY artillery fires have ceased for several days now, but skirmishes in some parts of Mindanao keep on as government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) continue to clash in several towns and provinces.
On Wednesday, the big artillery guns of the military rested after days of firing. On the same day though, troops from the Army's 6th Infantry Battalion encountered about 10 fully armed MILF rebels aboard a boat on the river of Barangay Tumaguinting in Kabuntalan, Shariff Kabunsuan.
The firefight lasted for five minutes before the rebels withdrew.
Three days before that, operating troops from the Army's 40th IB encountered another MILF group in Barangay Lomopog in Midsayap, North Cotabato. Another group of soldiers from the Army's 7th IB also encountered MILF rebels in Barangays Guaminangan and Balong of Datu Piang, Maguindanao.
The MILF group was reportedly led by commanders Jade Pakiladatu and Abas Kudanding of the 105th Base Command under Kommander Umbra Kato.
Since last week, the military overran about 17 MILF camps in central and northern Mindanao. In Datu Piang alone, five MILF satellite camps were seized by government troops.
The satellite camps were in barangays Liong under Kumander Hajmi, Alonganen under Kumander Talio, Kalipapa under Kumander Abas Kudanding, and Guaminanga under Kumander Umbra Kato.
The MILF camp in Lanao was also overran by the AFP but Kumander Bravo and Umbra Kato have remained free. The government has offered P5 million each for Kato and Bravo's arrest.
Human rights advocates meanwhile raised alarm on the increasing number of human casualties in the armed conflict. It was learned that since August 18, 187 people have died in the Mindanao conflict.
Casualties
The military said about 60 civilians have been killed in attacks by MILF renegades. In addition, 110 rebels and 17 soldiers have died.
Leila de Lima, head of the Commission on Human Rights, told reporters at least 20 civilians were killed in Piagapo town on Sunday as the military pursued guerrillas responsible for the attacks.
De Lima said the number of civilians killed or injured in the army offensive could be much higher but it was difficult to get a precise number because most of the areas remained inaccessible due to the fighting.
Different figure
The MILF has a different number on casualties though. In its website luwaran.com, the Muslim secessionist group claimed that since August 9, the numbers of casualties are as follows:
1. In North Cotabato, more than 60 were killed on the part of soldiers, CAFGUs and CVO.
2. In Maguindanao, more than 50 were killed on the part of the soldiers and members of the Civilian Auxiliary Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgus).
3. In Maasim, Saranggani, 58 soldiers were killed.
4. In Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte, more than 20 soldiers killed were reported.
5. On the part of the MILF, more or less 10 fighters were killed.
6. No figure on the wounded in action was reported.
On war material, the MILF claimed to have destroyed four tanks and several military vehicles. Several high-powered firearms were also seized by the MILF, the group claimed.
The MILF said the government has also spent millions, if not billions, in its military operation against the MILF. OV 10 bomber planes was estimated to have dropped "indiscriminately" at least 150 bombs costing P250,000 per bomb.
Double body fighter planes launched indiscriminately more than 200 bombs amounting to over P100,000 per bomb. Helicopter gunships launched bombs and fired machines guns for more than 20 days. Artillery shelling was approximated to have reached to more than 1,000 rounds with each shell costing to P35,000.
An 81mm mortar also fired for more than a thousand rounds with each shell amounting to more than P10,000 each. Fuel and oil expenses could be pegged at millions of pesos also, claimed the MILF.
But the biggest cost of the war is the displacement of more than 250,000 civilians -- men, women, and children.
"Suspension of school classes, farms and crops destroyed, civilians killed, investments and economy severely affected. Civilians are taking up arms and government providing firearms and ammunitions. Houses destroyed, farm animals killed. Human rights violations, looting of properties by soldiers in Maguindanao. Civilian residences raided. People getting killed in evacuation centers and poor-conditioned makeshifts. People overwhelmed by fear and refusing to go back home. Muslims and Christians are starting to divide. Peace process at the brink of collapse."
