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Saturday, July 08, 2006
Arroyo intervention sought in Maguindanao fighting
MINDANAO peace advocates last week called on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to step in and put a halt to the renewed outbreak of hostilities in Maguindanao, scene of fierce encounters between government and Moro secessionist rebels in 2000 and 2003.
In a statement, Mary Ann Arnado, secretary general of the Mindanao People's Caucus (MPC) and deputy director of the Initiatives for International Dialogue, appealed to President Arroyo to immediately intervene to avoid escalation of hostilities in Shariff Aguak.
Heavy fighting between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government militia forces in Barangay Meta in Shariff Aguak entered its third day on Friday as relief workers rushed to the area to help civilian residents fleeing the area.
"Only the ceasefire volunteers and the [Malaysian-led] International Monitoring Team have entered the conflict zone. Relief operations were kept at bay this morning," Arnado described the prevailing situation in the Maguindanao town.
In the statement, Arnado called on Arroyo to immediately order government troop to disengage the MILF forces for the sake of the innocent civilian-evacuees.
Malacañang has not yet issued any orders as the president is still on her weeklong state visits in European countries.
"We also call upon Secretary Jesus Dureza to please give his due attention on this crisis in Maguindanao before it blows out of proportion," Arnado also said.
Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesperson, said government troops continued shelling rebel positions in the town as he claimed their forces overrun a militia outpost and killed at least 20 of them.
Supt. Lumala Gunting, Maguindanao provincial director, belied Kabalu's claim, saying they have not seen the dead bodies.
Television networks last week said at least 35 militiamen died in the renewed outbreak of hostilities.
One MILF fighter was also reported dead and 10 others wounded.
A Bantay Ceasefire volunteer on the ground, Baileng Mantawil, said that residents from nine villages in Shariff Aguak and neighboring Mamasapano town have abandoned their houses.
"The villages were like a ghost town. Sadly, there's no evacuation center yet where the displaced individuals could seek refuge. Some of them lived on carts [pulled by carabaos] and others in their relatives' houses," Mantawil reported.
Gunting noted that the situation was so tense in the area that on Thursday night, even members of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities were barred by government forces manning the main highway from going to Shariff Aguak.
On Friday morning, she said that officials of the Mindanao Emergency Relief Networks have a meeting to discuss concerted relief operations to the beleaguered villagers.
Fighting reportedly is still raging in barangays Dalembong of Mamasapano town and Tapikan in Shariff Aguak town.
At least three MILF fronts were involved in the gun battle with over 300 government forces, Bantay Ceasefire volunteers said.
Arnado said the assault by over 100 militias on the claimed area of the MILF's 105th Base Command is in retaliation to the bombing last week supposedly intended for Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan.
The car bomb killed at least five people, including a close relative of the governor.
For Bisaya stories from General Santos.Click here. (This section is updated every Monday)
(July 3, 2006 issue)
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