Friday, July 11, 2014

Army deploys peacekeepers after MNLF, MILF clash in North Cotabato over land dispute

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 11): Army deploys peacekeepers after MNLF, MILF clash in North Cotabato over land dispute

More peacekeeping forces of the military were sent to remote villages here after two Moro rebel groups clashed over land dispute and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) harassed Army and militia detachment in Barangay Malamote.

Separate clashes involving MILF and rival Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and MILF against militiamen and soldiers occurred at dawn Thursday, Lt. Leonard Lopez, speaking for the 7th Infantry Battalion.

Separate skirmishes involving MILF commander Unzon and militiamen also occurred just as MILF and MNLF members traded bullets in nearby Barangay Manubuan, also in Matalam.

No casualty was reported in the MILF, MNLF clashes that the Army believed was triggered by a long standing family feud involving farmers who happened to BE affiliated with either of the two Moro fronts.

The firefight started at about 3 a.m. and ceased about four hours later.

As both sides traded bullets, another band of MILF members clashed with government militiamen and soldiers at about 4 a.m. in nearby Sitio Maligaya, Barangay Malamote, Matalam, North Cotabato

Lopez said an Army temporary detachment in Sito Maligaya was harassed by about 50 MILF belonging to 108th base command.

The harassment forced government forces to return fire, triggering a sporadic exchange of bullets for about three hours.

“Our forces were deployed there to serve as peacekeeping force in a land conflict involving MILF and some farmers,” Lopez said.

An unidentified farmer was wounded when he was hit by stray bullets in Barangay Malamote. But Lopez said the Army is yet to verify the report.

Several families have moved to nearby villages to avoid getting caught in crossfire as both warring groups are still in the area as of this writing.

Late last month, MILF forces harassed Moro farmers who owned vast track of lands in Barangay Malamote.

With the scene of clashes about a kilometer from the highway linking Cotabato province to Davao City, Lopez road security personnel have been provided to ensure the safety of commuters.

Following Thursday’s armed conflict, the government and MILF ceasefire committee members have been sent to help defuse the tension.

The fighting occurred while Muslims, including the protagonists, were observing the fasting month of Ramadan.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=661592

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.