Philippines alerts Indonesia as MNLF seeks support on Zamboanga attack

From InterAksyon (Sep 9): Philippines alerts Indonesia as MNLF seeks support on Zamboanga attack

The Philippines has alerted Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country that facilitated peace talks with the Moro National Liberation Front, about the attack the group undertook in Zamboanga City early Monday morning.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda made these remarks after the group appeared to be seeking Jakarta's support.

Lacierda said the government was surprised that the MNLF was citing the alleged termination of the peace process as reason for its attack.

Lacierda noted that a representative from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation even met with MNLF spokesman Emmanuel Fontanilla last week to discuss the upcoming tripartite meeting in Indonesia.

Indonesia, as chairman of the OIC's Committee of the Eight, brokered the 1996 final peace agreement between the government and the MNLF.

"They (Indonesian government) are for peace and we hope... we will leave it up to them as to what their actions will be," Lacierda said in a briefing aired over state-run Radyo ng Bayan.

The MNLF earlier appealed to Indonesia to intervene to end the standoff in Zamboanga City.

"We hope that the Indonesian Embassy could act on this matter," Fontanilla said in a radio interview.

President Benigno Aquino III is still meeting with the security cluster of the Cabinet.
He has already dispatched Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista to Zamboanga City.

Ex-MNLF official condemns attack

Meanwhile, a former Moro National Liberation Front official, Lanao del Sur Rep. Pangalian Balindong, has condemned the attack in Zamboanga City.

"It is indeed very grim and disturbing news that Zamboanga is under siege from some elements of the MNLF," said Balindong, current deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

"Like any Filipino, we hate violence. We abhor war," he added.

Balindong said while there are differences in working for lasting peace and development in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, "the use of force and violence can never be one of these."

"Attacking a place like Zamboanga, injuring and killing civilians caught in the crossfire is not one either," he said, "We condemn the use of force in Zamboanga as it cannot do any good. In war, we are all losers, and war will bring us farther from our desired goal of peace."

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/70334/philippines-alerts-indonesia-as-mnlf-seeks-support-on-zamboanga-attack