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Thursday, April 19, 2007
Moro group wants tripartite body convened earlier
By Ulysses Israel
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leadership pressed for the immediate reconvening of the Tripartite Conference to resolve the conflict brought by the action of Commander Habier Malik against government forces.
"The need for the reconvening of the Tripartite Conference has become more urgent and compelling at this time, to prevent the escalation of hostilities and to spare the civilians from further adverse effects wrought by the continued fighting," Jimmy Labuan, MNLF vice chairman, said in an interview.
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"We believe, Commander Malik will not take drastic actions unless provoked. He was provoked that's why he retaliated," Labuan said in response to the accusation by the military that Malik ordered the mortar attacks on government building and military detachment without provocation.
"I am calling for the government to reconvene the Tripartite Conference earlier than scheduled (in July). This is our answer to the call of Secretary (Jesus) Dureza for us in the MNLF to deal with Commander Malik," he said.
"We cannot take appropriate steps, as Secretary Dureza was asking, unless the government makes its request official, and we are proposing that a tripartite meeting be held with the presence of the OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference) as the mediator," he said.
Earlier, Secretary Dureza, head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (Opapp), called on the leadership of the MNLF "to take appropriate steps and accordingly deal with the criminal and violent acts perpetrated by one of its commanders."
The military has ordered to hunt down Malik and his men after the MNLF commander allegedly ordered mortar attacks on the town hall and a Marine detachment in Panamao town over the weekend.
Brigadier General Ruperto Pabustan, military special operations forces chief, said Tuesday that three marines and 17 MNLF members died in a series of clashes.
Malik's group launched mortar attacks that hit two marine camps and houses near Panamao's town hall late Friday to Saturday, killing two marines and a child, the military said.
The military deployed up to 3,000 troops and marines, backed by helicopter gunships, to seize Malik's Panamao camp over the weekend but failed to capture him.
The military spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) also reported that troops captured another MNLF encampment in nearby Talipao town Sunday then caught up with a small pocket of Malik's men Monday in a Panamao village, setting off a brief clash that killed one rebel.
On Tuesday, an MNLF fighter was killed and another captured in clearing operations conducted by troops in Bitan-ag village, town of Panamao, Sulu, he said.
The MNLF said the military's decision to offer reward of P1 million bounty for the capture of Malik is "unnecessary and will further aggravate the situation."
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Tuesday said thousands of government forces will continue hunting down renegade MNLF fighters under Malik even as he offered a P1 million bounty for the capture of Malik.
The MNLF, Labuan said, believes Malik was provoked contrary to allegations by the military that he attacked the military without provocation. "We reported the incident of military's incursion into MNLF's territories to the OIC, and the OIC, being the mediator can take action," he added.
Moreover, he said the tripartite meeting was postponed several times by the government allegedly due to the holding of election. It was rescheduled to July.
The Philippine Government and the MNLF will discuss during the tripartite meeting the continuation of the implementation of the provisions of the Peace Agreement, which was signed in 1996.
The 57-nation OIC has brokered for the signing of the 1996 GRP-MNLF Peace Accord.
Ceasefire-appeal welcomed
Malacañang welcomed the appeal of OIC for a halt to renewed fighting between government forces and MNLF, saying it has consistently worked with international allies and stakeholders for peace in the south.
Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye, however, stressed that the government could not have peace hostage to the victims of lawlessness.
"The rule of law itself has come under threat and must be upheld by aggressive law enforcement operations with an eye on the safety and well-being of civilians who may be caught in the crossfire," he said in a statement.
"We acknowledge the call of the OIC for peace in Sulu and we have consistently worked with international allies and stakeholders toward this end," Bunye said.
On the other hand, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday said its troops are on track to neutralizing renegade MNLF Commander Malik and his men who attacked civilian and military targets in Sulu over the weekend.
Armed Forces public information officer Bartolome Bacarro said the military wants the operations against Malik concluded before the May 14 elections.
“We do believe that we are gaining, we are at the upper hand and we will keep up the momentum tracking down Malik and getting Malik,” Bacarro told a news conference at the military’s general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.
Bacarro said prolonging the operations may impact on the conduct of the elections in Sulu.
He also said finishing the operations early would be to the advantage of government forces in Sulu so that they can concentrate on defeating the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).(With VR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (April 19, 2007 issue)
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