MILF to declare own suspension of military operations

COTABATO CITY , Philippines   – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) officials said yesterday they would reciprocate the government’s suspension of military operations (SOMO) against the rebel group.

MILF chief negotiator Muhaquer Iqbal said they just need time to assess the situation and communicate the official response of the central committee for suspension of hostilities.

Iqbal assured the public the MILF would announce its own SOMO by tomorrow.

“We need time to inform our field commanders in Mindanao of our central committee’s official response to President’s Arroyo’s move,” Iqbal said.

At the same time, MILF vice chairman Ghadzali Jaafar welcomed the declaration of the SOMO, hailing the move as a step towards attaining peace in the region.

“We welcome this good development. The MILF has always been for a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the conflict in Mindanao,” Jaafar said.

Jaafar said the declaration of SOMO shows the intention of President Arroyo to revive the peace talks with the MILF.

Malacañang expressed optimism that the peace talks between the government and the MILF will resume next month with the SOMO.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the government is hoping the MILF would reciprocate the SOMO.

He said the SOMO was a unilateral decision on the part of the government to show good faith in resuming the peace talks with the MILF.

Ermita said the government is also hoping that the SOMO would create the environment for the MILF to return to the negotiating table after the peace process collapsed in August last year.

Mrs. Arroyo ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday to halt all offensive operations against the MILF in a bid to restart peace talks.

The peace talks broke down last year when the MILF went on a rampage in Central Mindanao after the Supreme Court threw out the preliminary peace deal that could have given the rebel group control and autonomy in some areas in the region.

Jaafar said the MILF would still abide by their end of the ceasefire agreement with the government.

“What we, members of the MILF central committee are to possibly talk about soon is whether to also declare a SOMA in reciprocation of President Arroyo’s move. I cannot preempt anything. We shall make the necessary announcements soon,” Jaafar declared.

Iqbal, however, explained the MILF central committee would still decide on whether to reciprocate the government’s SOMO.

“Members of the MILF central committee decides on policies and resolves issues and concerns through consensus-building,” Iqbal said.

During the SOMO, the MILF fighters would be confined to their camps during the SOMO while some of them would take the opportunity to return to their farmlands and reunite with their families, Iqbal said.

Manhunt still on

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, on the other hand, clarified the SOMO was declared to allow the peace negotiations with the MILF to continue.

Teodoro said the soldiers are still duty bound to maintain the peace and protect the communities in the region against attacks.

He said there would be no reduction of troops and their presence would ensure that armed MILF guerrillas would not be roaming around the villages during the SOMO.

“The SOMO will bring about an environment that is suitable for mutual understanding. However, our forces shall remain vigilant to ensure force preservation and protection of civilians and vital installations,” Teodoro said.

The AFP also welcomed the SOMO but stressed they will still have to hunt down the MILF rebels that took part in the August 2008 attacks in Central Mindanao.

The military’s Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer said they are still under orders to assist the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest Ameril Umbra Kato and Abdul Macapaar and their men behind last year’s bloody attacks.

Nearly 300 people have been killed in more than two months of fighting in six southern provinces after rogue MILF members led by Kato and Macapaar went on a rampage, burning houses and farms and killing civilians.

The two rebel commanders launched the attacks after the Supreme Court turned down the preliminary peace deal that would have given the rebels control over a Muslim autonomous region.

“The SOMO, however, should not be viewed as an about face on our promise to bring Kato and his men to the bar of justice,” Ferrer said.

Ferrer explained the AFP would support the PNP in the effort to arrest Kato and Macapaar.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said they would support the government’s declaration of SOMO against the MILF.

Verzosa, however, clarified the police units in the region would be in defensive mode.

“PNP units will assume active defense mode to prevent any untoward incident or thwart any hostile action by the MILF particularly in areas where MILF forces are known to be operating,” Verzosa said.

Verzosa added the PNP would still continue their manhunt against Kato and Macapaar and their men.

Presidential adviser on the peace process Avelino Razon Jr. said the police operation against Kato and Macapaar is not covered by SOMO.

“The MILF rogue commanders are not covered by SOMO because they are plain criminals,” Razon said.

“We cannot allow criminals to be roaming around scot-free. The law is the law. Justice has to be served without fear or favor,” he said.

Ermita, on the other hand, said he expects the MILF to ask for an end to operations against their renegade commanders.

Even though the President has declared a SOMO, Ermita said the manhunt for the renegade MILF commanders would continue.

Ermita explained the PNP would now take over the operations from AFP against the rogue MILF commanders under the SOMO.

He said the President made it clear that law enforcement activities would continue until the rogue MILF commanders are brought to justice.

Iqbal, on the other hand, pointed out the “police action” against Kato and Macapaar is another issue that should be threshed out during the SOMO.

Iqbal pointed out any police operation against their forces would result in “accidental skirmishes” that would compromise the SOMO.

Iqbal suggested the police operations against Kato and Macapaar should be addressed by a joint committee of MILF and the government.

“These are the issues that would have to be taken up as soon as we get engaged in the peace talks,” he said.

Iqbal also ruled out a resumption of peace talks without “an international guarantee” that any outcome of negotiations would be implemented.

Iqbal previously mentioned the participation of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the United Nations but acknowledged the Philippine government was cool to such a proposal because it may call into question its sovereignty.

“We are very clear to the government: Unless a certain mechanism is in place, we won’t talk to the government anymore because we don’t trust the government anymore,” he told dwIZ radio.

“We cannot go directly to the discussion of the political settlement,” he said, referring to the preliminary deal, scheduled to be signed in Malaysia last August, which could have expanded an existing autonomous region in Mindanao.

Preparations

Following the declaration of the SOMO, the government peace panel (GRP) led by Tomas Cabili and Ronald Adamat held a consultation dialogue with the different sectors in Iligan City in preparation for the possible resumption of peace talks with the MILF.

“The outputs in this consultations that bring the voices and sentiments of all stake holders will be made reference materials for the peace negotiations,” Adamat said.

Cabili added the consultations was made as a lesson learned from the Supreme Court ruling that had declared the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) with the MILF illegal because it was crafted without the consultation and concurrence of local officials and residents of the areas covered by the preliminary peace agreement.

Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz, who was among the local officials that filed the petition in the Supreme Court questioning the BJE, said the declaration of SOMO on the part of the government is a step forward to attain peace in the region.

“And we are expecting the same gesture from the MILF (to reciprocate the SOMO),” Cruz said.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, for his part, ordered the five constituent-provincial governors to initiate public forums to disseminate the importance of the SOMO in the effort to restore peace and security in the region.

Maguindanao residents led by Rep. Simeon Datumanong also welcomed the SOMO.

“Now there is light at the end of the tunnel. We hope for the speedy resolution of the security problems in Central Mindanao through diplomatic initiatives,” Datumanong said.

Datumanong stressed the need for the government and the MILF to work on a framework for a mutually agreed suspension of any tactical military actions that can trigger undue confrontations. – With Marvin Sy, Jaime Laude, Edith Regalado, James Mananghaya, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Mike Frialde, Lino de la Cruz, Jose Rodel Clapano, AP