The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) turned over
Tuesday, June 16, 75 weapons of war and 145 combatants, most of them having
fought wars since the 1970s.
Other combatants are in their mid-20’s. They are only the
first batch that will leave behind years of struggle to start a new life
without waging wars.
Among them was 66-year-old deputy commander of the MILF’s
Lawin unit, Jacob Palao, who enlisted with MILF a year after Martial Law was
declared. He fought wars since 1974.
Palao was the highest ranked of the 145 MILF combatants who
will be turning civilians for the decommissioning process.
Palao was happy that both MILF and the Philippine government
are starting the normalization process. Palao was hopeful that the government
will carry out the promise of socio-economic development in the Bangsamoro.
In his speech before the delegates led by President Benigno
Aquino III, MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ibrahim said, “This occasion is not a
story about statistics. This is something personal to us. They are the stories
of struggle, of pain, of hopelessness, even death”.
During the ceremonial decommissioning of the combatants held
at old capitol of in Maguindanao Province in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Murad said
he also saw stories of hope and faith that indeed peace was near and that all
sacrifices have been worth it.
He said it is his story as well and the majuhedeen who have
given their life, intelligence to protect the Bangsamoro people.
“What we have today then are not only the stories of the 145
fighters…what we have are the stories of the whole.
Bangsamoro …oppression, tyranny, and yes liberation,” he
added.
Admitting that the road to decommissioning was not easy even
within the MILF, Murad however said it is expected because struggle is an
integral part of their identity.
He emphasized that their decision is deeply rooted in their
firm commitment to comply with the principled signed agreements with
government.
Decommissioning of weapons and the MILF combatants is part
of the normalization process to bring conflict-affected areas into a state of
normalcy in terms of human security and economic stability while legislative
mill for the approval of the Bangsamoro Basic Law continues.
The decommissioning program aims to put the arms and forces
of the rebel group beyond use. The 75 weapons were turned over to the
Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) headed by Turkey
The IDB is composed of members Jan Erik Wilhemsen from Norway , Maj. Muhammad Aiman Syazwi Bin Haji
Abdul Rahim from Brunei
The 145 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces
(BIAF) were registered and given help to formally return to civilian lives.
Berk said the weapons were checked and verified.
The decommissioned guns will be kept will be brought to an
agreed area, the Weapons Storage facility located inside Camp Iranun (Abubakar)
in Sitio Bombaran, Barangay Tugaig in Barira, Maguindanao.
About 30 members of the Joint Peace and Security Teams
(JPST) who will be supervised by the Joint Verification and Monitoring Team
(JVMT) of the IDB will be backed by close circuit TV cameras.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=773211
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