MILF still validating reported emergence of new militant group

From the Gulf News (Aug 29): MILF still validating reported emergence of new militant group

A Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) official said they are validating reports over the emergence of a new militant group in Southern Philippines.

Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator in talks with the government, told Gulf News in a text message that they are still trying to verify information that a new armed group has surfaced in the Central and Northern Mindanao region. Asked if the group has ties with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Nur Misuari faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Iqbal said: “We are still validating (this report).”

A local Islamic group, which calls itself the Khilafa Islamiah Mindanao (KIM) had owned up to the bombing of the Kyles Bistro in Cagayan de Oro City last July 26.

The blast, which took place during the evening when people are having their pre-weekend time off and relaxation at the Limketkai Centre mall, killed eight people including two doctors, several health professionals as well as a local politician. Nearly 50 people were injured in the explosion.

Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Francisco Uyami was quoted in reports as confirming that the group, the KIM, was indeed responsible for the attack and that charges are being filed against one of its suspected leaders, Usman Hapids.

Uyami said that according to information they received, the previously unknown group has 40 members.

For his part, Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan said both the government and the MILF are bound by an agreement to hunt down lawless elements as it could jeopardise peace negotiations.

“We are one with the MILF in going after lawless elements, most specially those involved in act of terror,” Tutaan said.

The MILF and the government has established a body — the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group — to go after elements that could spoil the peace process.

September talks

Last Sunday, the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and MILF ended the 39th round of formal exploratory talks, resolving several issues on the two remaining annexes on power sharing and normalisation.

In a joint statement, the parties said they have achieved “substantial progress in the discussions towards finalising the Annexes on Power Sharing and Normalisation to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB).”

“During the four-day meeting, the Parties worked towards the resolution of some of the most crucial issues,” they stated.

Both sides agreed to meet again in September 2013.

Government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer described this round of talks as difficult to conclude since the agenda covered two annexes.

“We knew that negotiating on the power sharing annex will be as hard as that on the wealth sharing annex so we feel relieved having come to better understanding on the principles of intergovernmental relations,” she said. “Because we have settled fiscal matters in the wealth sharing Annex, it was easier for us to agree on related items in the power sharing annex.”

The MILF and the Manila-based government’s quest for a final agreement to end the Moro conflict in Southern Philippines started in 1999 during the administration of President Joseph Estrada.

http://gulfnews.com/news/world/philippines/milf-still-validating-reported-emergence-of-new-militant-group-1.1225249