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Sunday, March 06, 2005
Mayor fears more violence after Arroyo junks ceasefire call
By Lizanilla J. Amarga and Lino dela Cruz
CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Mayor Vicente Emano fears that the decision of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to step up military operations in Sulu might just result into more bombings in other parts of Mindanao.
Emano and the rest of the local Sulu peace mission also aborted plans to visit the war-torn island fearing that they might be caught in the crossfire.
The Cagayan mayor said Arroyo's decision to continue military operations in Jolo, Sulu may bring other areas in Mindanao to the throes of more bombing sprees.
The Valentines Day bombing in the cities of General Santos, Davao and Makati City were connected to the Sulu clashes between the military and supporters of jailed Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari.
"Nahadlok ako nga kini mo-resulta sa daghan pang kagubot diri sa nagkalaing-laing dapit diri sa Mindanao (I fear that Arroyo's decision to step up military operations in Sulu will result to more strife in other areas in Mindanao)," he said Saturday during his Mayor's Move program over FM Station Sandy 101.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) condemned Arroyo's no ceasefire decision.
Peace mission
Emano said the organizers of the peace mission have decided to abort their plans to visit Jolo, Sulu.
He said the group, composed of Emano, Marawi City Mayor Solitario Ali and Ozamis City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog among others believe that they might get hit in the crossfire of the ongoing clash.
Nevertheless, Emano said he is amenable to the tentative plans to still push through with the peace mission but that they would only travel up to Zamboanga City.
"There we will just air out our desire to conduct a peace mission for the poor civilians - women, children and old people - who are now displaced and affected by the ongoing clash," he said in the dialect.
Meanwhile, in separate statements to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Saturday, the CPP, MNLF and MILF expressed strong condemnation on Arroyo's no-ceasefire decision.
"It has refused to heed the widespread clamor to put an end to the AFP armed offensives which has resulted in the displacement of close to a hundred thousand people and escalating violence against the unarmed civilians in Sulu," the CPP said.
Root causes
The group added that the Arroyo government has "once again clearly demonstrated that it has no intention of addressing the root causes of the Moro people's armed resistance."
"The Moro people's human rights are trampled. Their aspiration for genuine self-determination continues to be denied by the reactionary state," they said.
The CPP said the MNLF was bound to resume armed resistance against the Philippine government, as this is part of upholding the Moro people's social-economic and political aspirations.
The communist group also urges the Moro people to intensify their armed resistance against the Arroyo regime in their struggle for genuine self-determination.
"The only answer to Arroyo's declaration of all-out war is all-out armed resistance," the group said.
Peace broker
A top ranking MNLF officer who was not identified in the MILF website said Arroyo's order for the military to continue its offensive in Jolo is " an investment for more violence."
"Pres. Arroyo will be blamed for the escalation of war in Jolo" he further said.
As this developed, Muhammad Amen, secretary of Al Hadj Murad Ibrahim, MILF's central committee chairman, said: "It is clear that the President only hears and follows the views of her generals in the Mindanao conflict".
The MILF earlier offered to stand as peace broker for a ceasefire between MNLF chairman Nur Misuari faction rebels and government troops but was rejected by Malacanang.
Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza, AFP Southern Command chief, during his visit Saturday yesterday refused to comment on the on-going Jolo offensive. "Ayoko nang magsalita tungkol sa Jolo" (I do not want to talk about Jolo) he told reporters here.
President Arroyo's no ceasefire decision got the support of Senate President Franklin Drilon.
"You don't declare the truce with bandits and terrorists. The MILF peace negotiation is on going. I understand that it's progressing well. The peace agreement with the MILF is holding. So what do you have? You have the Abu Sayyaf and you have the splinter group of the MNLF doing all these things. I don't think that it is correct that we declare truce with terrorists and bandits," Drilon, speaking before the media at the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo Hotel news forum, said.
Drilon also urged Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman to make sure evacuees needs are all attended to.
(March 6, 2005 issue)
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