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Thursday, November 03, 2005
Moro rebels open to dismantling camp to allay fears
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Wednesday said it would dismantle an outpost on a village in the province of South Cotabato following protests from local residents.
South Cotabato Governor Daisy Fuentes said civilians were frightened by the presence of armed rebels in the village. She said the rebels were also building new camps in the area.
The MILF said it was not building camps in the area, but admitted maintaining a command post manned by about 50 rebels.
Rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu said members of the joint committees on the cessation of hostilities and the Malaysia-led truce observers are investigating the report.
"There are (neither) new camps nor is the MILF building camps in the area. What we have there is a small command post manned by about 30 to 50 members," Kabalu said.
He said the MILF is willing to dismantle and abandon the post to allay fears in the area.
"We will dismantle and abandon the outpost, and will also prohibit our members from carrying firearms in the village to allay fears of civilians in the area," Kabalu said.
Manila opened peace talks with the MILF and signed a ceasefire agreement in 2001. Under the accord, the MILF is prohibited to build new camps or expand their so-called strongholds in the south.
The peace talks are expected to resume soon in Malaysia, which is brokering the negotiations, in an effort to end more than three decades of fighting in the troubled, but mineral-rich region. (Sun.Star Zamboanga/Sunnex)
(November 3, 2005 issue)
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