Tuesday, August 26, 2008 Arroyo clarifies military operations vs MILF
CLARK FREEPORT ZONE -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said her administration is in a path to an all-out peace in Mindanao rather than an all-out war.
During last Monday's inauguration of the Global Gateway Logistics City here, Arroyo informed the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) through Kuwaiti officials and businessmen in the event that Philippine government forces are only running after members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who are responsible for the attacks in the provinces of North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte and Saranggani.
She said the recent rampage involving "lawless" members of the MILF calls for a resolute military and police action.
"I say to the Filipino people, to the world, to our Muslim brothers in the South, to the OIC through our Kuwaiti friends, there is no all-out war. What we are doing is to have all-out peace in Mindanao," she added, as she acknowledged the presence of Kuwaiti Ambassador Ahmad Doaud Salman Al-Sabah.
The OIC facilitated the implementation of the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). It also facilitates, through Malaysia, the talks between the government and the MILF.
The President assured that her government had never deviated from its objective in the peace process, which is to have lasting peace and development in Mindanao, but the "peace must be anchored on justice."
She said the raising of a P10 million reward for MILF commanders Ameril Umbra Kato and Abdullah Saber Macapaar also shows the government's firm resolve to hasten the arrest and "neutralization of these criminals, so that justice can be achieved and we can move on with the peace process."
She stressed that the targeted personalities are historically the recalcitrant commanders who have been creating trouble before and during the peace negotiations, and whom they expect to continue to create problems even after a final agreement would be forged between the government and the MILF.
"So the campaign against them is intended to remove the obstacles to the peace process. We wish for all insurgents to turn their swords into ploughshares, their arms to farms. We ask all sectors to be with us, including our brothers in the OIC," she added.
Press Secretary Jesus dureza, in a radio interview, said Kato and Macapaar could be tagged as terrorist based on the "terrorist" activities that they had engaged in.
Dureza said the government is not tagging the whole MILF as terrorist, but they must show their sincerity and clearly prove that they are not tolerating the actions of their commanders.
"How can we continue peace negotiations with the group that tolerates terrorism? Umbra Kato and Bravo's (Macapaar) attacking of civilians in the past weeks cannot be justified at all," he said.
He also warned other MILF members of aiding or coddling the two commanders, as they would be lumped alongside of Kato and Macapaar.
He reiterated that MILF chairman Al Haj Murad and the entire MILF leadership must stand down and allow the government forces to pursue and implement the law.
"They cannot use the peace process to justify their violations. They should not be allowed to be used the peace process to violate citizens, innocent civilians, as what happened in the past few days," Dureza said. (JMR/Sunnex)
