Heavy, but sporadic fighting entered its 7th day in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines as troops, backed by armoured vehicles, continue to battle rebels holding dozens of civilian, officials said Sunday.
At least 10 hostages, including a wounded child, managed to escape from their captors in Santa Barbara village since late Saturday and raising the total number of freed captives to 34; and that 11 rebels had been captured and several more killed in the clashes.
Some of those arrested were captured in drainage canal while they attempted to escape. Civilians spotted them and informed the soldiers about it. Two of those arrested were also women members of the Moro National Liberation Front under Nur Misuari.
Troops on Saturday pulled several bodies of slain rebels, including a woman, in Santa Barbara village. One soldier said they pulled one body from the street because animals were already feeding on it. “Dogs are around the cadaver and we managed to get the body despite dangers posed by MNLF snipers,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
The exact number of slain rebels was not immediately available, but the military said at least 43 rebels and six soldiers and policemen were killed in the clashes since September 9 when rebels – disgruntled with the peace deal they signed with the government 17 years ago - launched simultaneous attacks and took as many as 180 people and use them as shield.
Fighting was sporadic, but fierce and rebels torched several houses again on Saturday and opened fire on troops who tried to take their positions in the villages of Santa Catalina and Santa Barbara. Soldiers have surrounded the villages.
The military said more than 100 rebels, who were taking orders from Misuari’s lieutenant Ustadz Haber Malik, are still scattered in at least 5 areas.
Authorities said the presence of the captives have made extremely difficult for security forces to dislodge the rebels, but Human Rights Commissioner Manuel Mamauag said a rebel commander has phoned him to say that two hostages were wounded in the fighting.
The rebels have threatened to kill the hostages should the military assault continues. The fighting has forced over 60,000 people to flee and is now in temporary shelters, but many also put up makeshift tents near the shorelines.
One teenage hostage said he was freed by his captors who took pity on him. “Sa wakas nakalaya na ako. Isa po ako sa hostages kaya ako nakalabas hindi dahil sa tumakas ako dahil naawa ang mga MNLF sa pinsan ko mabait sila wala silang ginagawang masama saamin pinapakain kami 3 times a day nakikipag joke pa sila sa amin pero ang bad news is na iwan ang dalawan uncle at lolo ko at namatay ang pinsan ko na. Kawawa talaga siya hindi na sila naawa kahit bata binaril sila ng tanke ng militar sa totoo lang wala pang ginawang kalokohan ang mga MNLF sa amin,” he said.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar said if she only had her way, she would finish the crisis the soonest time.
“As I mentioned yesterday, if only I had the way, I want this finished the soonest possible time. Our troops are still out there, keeping the fight for all of us and we continue to support them in all their efforts to finally put this atrocity to end. There is no let-up in our work for peace. Zamboanga City is our home and we shall do everything to safeguard our home and the families we have here,” she said.
Misuari had repeatedly announced that the peace deal he signed with the Manila is long dead and buried and that he named himself as President of the Bangsamoro Republik.
Salazar said she would not allow the rebels to escape. “We do not want them to get out scot-free; we do not want them to leave with a free pass.”
She also reiterated that the crisis is not an issue of religion, but “an issue of those misguided people whose ideologies had been founded with the use of arms to inflict terror to people.”
“Let me reiterate to all of our people. This crisis is not an issue of religion. This had been made clear since the first day when this crisis begun. Let us not speculate and push further this divide as this will not help in solving the current situation of this city. This is an issue of those misguided people whose ideologies had been founded with the use of arms, ultimately to inflict terror to our people,” she said.
A US plane was also spotted flying over the conflict zone, but it was not immediately known whether the aircraft was getting information about rebel positions or mapping the area held by the MNLF.
The Interreligious Solidarity for Peace in Zamboanga has urged Manila to negotiate with the MNLF and issue safe passage to the rebels in exchange for the hostages.
It proposed the following: To immediately effect a humanitarian ceasefire to allow the release of civilian hostages, especially the children, the elderly, the persons with disabilities, the curing of the sick, and the burying of the dead; For the MNLF rebels to leave all the hostages in one safe place for them to be immediately fetched and their needs attended to, and for Malik’s group to be allowed safe conduct pass and for such pass to be guaranteed by President Aquino and witnessed by Indonesia.
“We support the pronouncement of the Philippine Government for the resumption of tripartite talks with the MNLF and for the latter to continue to carry its grievances to the peace table. For the sake of the people of Zamboanga and Mindanao, especially the Bangsamoro, the MNLF must seriously consider the public assurance of national government to carry on the talks with Indonesia as facilitator. At the end of the day, peace must prevail. But there can be no peace and harmony in any society without rule of law,” it said.
Spanish priest Angel Calvo is the lead convener of the Interreligious Solidarity for Peace with Professor Ali Yacub and Nulhamdo Cegales as co-conveners for the Muslim and indigenous peoples.
Fighting continues September 15, 2013 in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines where troops are battling Moro National Liberation Front rebels under Nur Misuari – disgruntled by the 1996 peace deal they signed with the government – who occupied several villages and took as many as 180 people hostage. The violence forced over 60,000 people to flee their homes. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
http://mindanaoexaminer.blogspot.com/2013/09/mnlf-amazon-killed-as-fighting-enters.html
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