MNLF girds for new struggle Clashes Rage Between Troops, BIFF Rebels In Maguindanao by Edd K, Usman, Elena L. Aben and Malu Cadelina Manar January 29, 2014 (updated) Share this: Manila, Philippines – Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding Chairman Nur P. Misuari has ordered his men to solidify their ranks in preparation for a new struggle. Rev. Absalom Cerveza, MNLF spokesman, revealed this yesterday as fresh fighting erupted in Maguindanao between government security forces and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a Muslim splinter group opposed to the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Manila Bulletin MAGUINDANAO CHECKPOINT (AFP) – Soldiers backed up by armored combat vehicles man a mobile checkpoint near the area where government troops and members of a Moro renegade faction clashed in Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao, on Jan. 27, 2014 At noon yesterday, a powerful explosion ripped through the public terminal of Datu Piang, Maguindanao, wounding an eight-year-old child and a pregnant woman as government forces continued to pound mortars and bombs on several suspected lairs of the BIFF rebels in Maguindanao and North Cotabato. Col. Dickson Hermoso, the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) spokesman, said fighting broke out anew around 5 a.m. at Barangay Bakat, Shariff Saydona Mustapha town. With the renewed clashes, Hermoso said the number of slain BIFF men in the sporadic firefights may still increase. As of reporting time, the military confirmed that 17 rogue Moro rebels have been killed while no casualties were reported on the government side. “The 17 BIFF killed might increase pa as soon as ground confirmation is over,” Hermoso said. Independence Cerveza said the MNLF founding leader described the agreement between the government and MILF as “tantamount to the abrogation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA).” On Monday, Cerveza said their group has allied with the group of Ustadhz Ameril “Umra” Kato, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM). Kato’s group, together with its armed component the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), split from the MILF in 2008 to continue the struggle for independence. Cerveza clarified that while the MNLF under Misuari is reviving the quest for independence, this will be done through “peaceful and political means.” He said this point was relayed by Misuari when he spoke to him by mobile phone on Sunday. The MNLF had already submitted to the United Nations’ Committee on Decolonization its bid for a separate Mindanao homeland. Cerveza said they will ask the UN to conduct a hearing on the MNLF’s petition for independence. “We will do everything as much as humanly possible to pursue independence peacefully. At the same time, we are solidifying our forces.” He recalled that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) prevailed upon Misuari to scale down the MNLF quest for independence to autonomy as exemplified in the 1976 Tripoli Agreement. Manila Bulletin MAGUINDANAO CHECKPOINT (AFP) – Soldiers backed up by armored combat vehicles man a mobile checkpoint near the area where government troops and members of a Moro renegade faction clashed in Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao, on Jan. 27, 2014 “Now, we are reviving the struggle for independence through the United Nations through peaceful means,” he said. On Aug. 12, 2013, Misuari declared the independence of the entire Mindanao and included the territory of Sabah and Sarawak. Military Air Strike Atty. Zainudin Malang, executive director of the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center (MinHRAC), said the explosion was part of the actual air strike launched yesterday by the military. Malang posted in his Facebook account the actual video of the air strikes. Malang said he posted the video to show the extent of risks faced by the evacuees and members of local non-government organizations attending to them. MinHRAC was one of few NGOs that immediately proceeded to Datu Piang town to check on the plight of the evacuees. The footage, he said, was taken yesterday afternoon after he and his staff, Haide Akas, visited an evacuation center in Datu Piang. His post said, “Helicopters and planes overhead firing their rockets and heavy guns several hundred meters away. I can see the anxiety and nervousness on the face of the civilians our team is with now. Children and their parents watch helplessly.” While on their way back to Cotabato City, Malang said he saw civilians watching choppers unload their munitions at their targets in what he identified as the village of Damabalas. Malang, citing as basis the statement of some of the evacuees, said at least 200 rounds of 105mm howitzer artillery shells fell in nearby villages where the military thought its target was holed up. Roadside Bomb The military’s offensives began Monday, a day after suspected BIFF rebels planted an improvised roadside bomb in a far-flung village in Midsayap, North Cotabato. The Army in Central Mindanao and the BIFF rebels have been exchanging gunfire and mortars in at least four villages in Datu Piang and several villages in Pikit town, also in North Cotabato. Evacuees from Pikit town rose to 520 families or 2,060 individuals from barangays of Gli, Balod, Macabual, Bulol, Balong, Bago Inged, and Barongis, data from Pikit Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said. Tahira Kalantongan, Pikit MDRRM officer, said they already distributed on Tuesday relief and food items to few evacuees. She admitted having difficulty in accessing other evacuees, especially in areas where fighting and mortar shelling were intense. She said one of the villages hardest hit by the firefight were Barangays Kabasalan and Paidu Pulangi, where at least 90 percent of their population evacuated to safer areas. Clarification Meanwhile, the military emphasized that the clashes that started Sunday have nothing to do with the signing of the Annex of Normalization between the Philippine government and the MILF. Hermoso said the intermittent clashes are part of law enforcement operations where the military is providing support to the police. The sporadic firefights began Sunday around 1:30 p.m. at Sultan Sa Barongis town, Maguindanao. Hermoso said troops from the Army’s 46th Infantry Battalion (IB) together with members of the local police were on their way to serve a warrant against certain BIFF personalities when they were attacked by the rogue Moro rebels. Army troops even launched artillery strikes against the enemy. Two helicopter gunships were likewise deployed after a big group of BIFF rebels were seen massing in two villages. Hermoso also sought to downplay the possibility that the ongoing violence in Maguindanao may escalate in nearby towns. “Hindi yan mag-eescalate dahil nakaharang kami para hindi lalabas dun sa dalawang munisipyo, hindi rin sila maka-move to North Cotabato dahil napakalalim at malawak yung Mindanao river,” he stressed. Related Developments: *Malacañang said it is optimistic that there will be “no serious disruption” of the peace process with the MILF despite the government’s “proactive” offensive operations against a breakaway group. Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. described the operation of the military and the police against the BIFF as a “proactive initiative” in a bid “to stem the tide of lawless actions that have been undertaken by members of this splinter group.” *Racing against time to attain peace in Mindanao, President Benigno S. Aquino III is expected to certify as urgent a bill creating the new political entity called the Bangsamoro region. Coloma said they hope lawmakers would consider the merits of the proposed Bangsamoro basic law and pass the measure as soon as possible. (With reports from Genalyn D. Kabiling)
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 04:58:51 +0000
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