Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Hopes high as MILF turns over weapons of war, combatants

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 16): Hopes high as MILF turns over weapons of war, combatants

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’s former ambassador to NATO, Haydar Berk.

The IDB is composed of members Jan Erik Wilhemsen from Norway, Maj. Muhammad Aiman Syazwi Bin Haji Abdul Rahim from Brunei, and local experts, AFP ret. Lt. Gen. Rey Ardor, Dr. Mario Aguja, MILF spokesperson Von Al-Haq and Janati Mimbantas.

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.

Camp Iranun, now home of the 603rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine military, used to be the biggest MILF homebase—Camp Abubakar, which fell to government hands in the year 2000 all-out war waged by former President Joseph Estrada.

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

No comments:

Post a Comment

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