No more talks

From the Manila Bulletin (Sep 16): No more talks

Gov’t Resorts To ‘Contain-And-Constrict Strategy’ Vs MNLF Rebels

No more negotiations.

The government declared yesterday that it has given up on talks with the gunmen sowing trouble in Zamboanga and is now focused on a “contain-and-constrict strategy” to resolve the conflict before more lives are lost.

Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte said government troops are employing “calibrated” operations to contain the gunmen in limited areas in Zamboanga while protecting the innocent civilians.

The military option is being employed after negotiations initiated by the local crisis management team in Zamboanga to peacefully end the standoff did not yield positive results, Valte said.

As the Zamboanga crisis entered its seventh day, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said yesterday government forces are gaining ground against rogue Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters who have occupied several villages in the city.

The death toll from the fighting is now at 60 – six from the military and police side, three civilians, and 51 from the MNLF.

Asked if the government will agree to grant a safe conduct pass to the fighters of MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari in exchange for the release of the hostages, Valte said the government has made clear it will no longer negotiate with the gunmen.

“Nakikipag-usap po sila for negotiations ngunit wala hong lumalabas doon sa mga nagiging pag-uusap. So, tayo po, ang mga security forces po natin ay talagang handang protektahan ‘yung ating mga sibilyan doon [We tried negotiating with them but nothing happened. Our security forces are ready to protect the civilians there],” she said.

Last weekend, a ceasefire plan collapsed after President Benigno S. Aquino III reportedly rejected the demands laid down by Misuari to end the conflict. One of the demands was supposedly a safe passage for the rebels in exchange for the release of the hostages.

Presidential Communications Development Secretary Ramon Carandang, meantime, said the government’s calibrated strategy to contain and constrict the Misuari group’s fighters is “working.”

“The contain-and-constrict strategy takes a bit longer than an all-out assault on Misuari forces but it minimizes harm to civilians,” Carandang said.

Carandang explained that before Thursday, the government tried to end the siege in Zamboanga peacefully. “The decision to use force is not taken lightly,” he added.

President Aquino, meantime, is still in Zamboanga overseeing government efforts to quell the violence. Aquino flew to the conflict zone last Friday to boost the morale of soldiers as well as assure the affected residents the government will not abandon them.

Valte said she could not say the duration of the President’s stay in Zamboanga for security reasons.

She brushed aside speculations that the government will ask US troops to help end the violence in Zamboanga. She said the proposed rotational presence of American troops in the country should not be connected with efforts to resolve the conflict in Zamboanga.

While the government could not give a time frame on when they expect the crisis to be resolved, the military said they are working to end the crisis soon.

“We’re gaining ground, were pushing forward,” said Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, the AFP public affairs office chief said.

The military earlier said the MNLF Misuari faction elements were holding at least 180 hostages. But as of press time, many of the hostages had either been freed or managed to escape.

Zagala said they have secured some of the areas that were earlier occupied by the rogue MNLF fighters, as government security forces conducted continuous operations.

“The operational tempo is dictated by us,” said Zagala, noting that from their previous estimate of 180-200 rogue MNLF gunmen who staged the siege, the number of the enemy is now down to “a little over 100.”

Zagala said the decrease in the number of the MNLF gunmen was because many of them had already been killed, at least 51, while some had either surrendered or been captured.

Government figures show that at least 19 rogue Moro insurgents have either surrendered or captured. Latest reports indicate that among those captured were two enemy snipers, one of whom had admitted being a member of the MNLF.

Reports from the field show that yesterday, at least five more hostages managed to flee from the MNLF elements who had used them as human shield.

Among the escaped hostages, who were shown on TV running toward a bus while being assisted by government troops, were two children.

The number evacuees rose to 68,316 as of Sunday morning. Most of the evacuees are temporarily taking shelter at the Baliwasan grandstand.

Soldiers Well Fed, Armed

Meanwhile, Malacañang assured that the government soldiers engaged in the military operation in Zamboanga City are properly armed and fed.

Valte denied reports the troops are running low on food and ammunition while locked in a fierce gun battle with MNLF rebels.

Valte said the soldiers are given adequate food and other supplies but don’t have the luxury of having a sit-down lunch in the middle of the standoff.

“Of course, we don’t expect our troops to have a sit-down lunch in the middle of the firefight. Please rest assured that the military is taking care of its own,” she added.

A number of netizens expressed frustration and pity after photos showing soldiers supposedly begging for food went viral on the Internet last week. The hungry soldiers were only reportedly given lugaw or porridge as food rations.

The Palace likewise assured that the government is providing assistance to families displaced by the conflict in Zamboanga.

Valte thanked the good Samaritans who offered hot meals and other relief items to the evacuees in the area. She particularly cited the restaurant owners who sent their staff and equipment to prepare food for the displaced families.

Rebels Burning Houses

As the military continued its operations in Zamboanga City, some MNLF rebels continued to burn houses as they withdrew to the mangroves area of Barangay Lustre and Sta. Barbara in this city.

Two big fires were observed yesterday morning one after the other at the back of the government hospital in Zamboanga City.

Meanwhile Isabela City Mayor Cherry Akbar reported that government troops in her city had sighted MNLF forces at the border of Isabela City and Sumisip, Basilan.

Another group was observed moving towards the town proper of Lantawan, Basilan, Akbar said.

Jakarta Offer

Indonesia, chair of the peace body for Mindanao of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), is “always ready” to restore “conditions” in Mindanao. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty M. Natalegawa made this assurance in an official statement.

 “The Government of Indonesia is always ready, at the request of the stakeholders, to contribute appropriately to the restoration of conditions in the southern part of the Philippines,” Natalegawa said.

In a related development, an MNLF spokesman has been calling on third parties, such as the United Nations and the OIC, to help settle the standoff. Lawyer Emmanuel Fontanilla, the MNLF spokesman, reiterated that a third party is needed to end the fighting.

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