The international monitoring team (IMT) for the
government-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace talks recommended
ceasefire-promoting measures following the deadly clash between State and
non-State forces in Maguindanao province on Jan. 25 this year.
Government peace panel chairperson Miriam Coronel Ferrer
presented the recommendations Monday (April 6) during a press conference in
Metro Manila.
According to IMT, government must coordinate and initiate
use of conflict preventive mechanisms available when launching law enforcement
operations in known MILF areas.
Ferrer said such areas/communities are those government's
peace panel and its counterpart identified as being places where MILF elements
are situated.
There's need to clarify further what is provided in Part VI
(Mechanics of Implementation) Paragraph 6 of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group
(AHJAG) Implementing Guidelines on the Joint Communique of 6 May 2002, IMT also
said in referring to the document calling for government and MILF coordination
on operations against criminal elements in MILF areas.
A higher ranking PNP Office should be assigned to Government
of the Philippines Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, IMT
continued.,p>IMT also said MILF-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) must
strengthen its command and control among its ranks as well as intelligence in
its operation.
BIAF is MILF's armed unit, noted government.
Government and MILF should uphold and observe the laws of
war, International Humanitarian Law as well as respective rules of engagement
and codes of conduct, IMT further said.
PNP and BIAF combatants found to have committed crimes
should be penalized accordingly under RA 9851 (Philippine Act on Crimes Against
International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity),
IMT likewise recommended.
IMT is a neutral body tasked with helping monitor
implementation of the ceasefire agreement between government and MILF.
The monitoring team made its recommendations after drawing
findings on the clash in Maguindanao's Mamasapano municipality between PNP's
Special Action Force (SAF) police commandos, who were carrying out Oplan Exodus
against two high-value terrorists there, and non-Stateforces authorities
earlier identified as being those from MILF, its breakaway group Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups.
Authorities reported the clash resulted in the death of 44
SAF members as well as several non-State elements and civilians.
The clash also stalled the bid to pass the proposed Bangsamoro
Basic Law.
"It's a very unfortunate incident as many people lost
their lives but this shouldn't be a case for turning our backs on the peace
process," said Ferrer.
Among IMT's findings is the clash between SAF's 55th company
and BIAF's 105th base command evolved from being one of "deliberately
uncontrolled movements to a disastrous firefight."
Oplan Exodus was a valid law enforcement operation, said
IMT.
"Ceasefire protocols weren't observed during the
planning andexecution of Oplan Exodus," IMT noted, however.
IMT added site of the clash between SAF's 55th company and
MILF-BIAF is accepted to be an MILF area/community under control of the
latter's base commanders.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=750802
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