Tension rises in Sultan Kudarat town as MILF prevents return of IDPs

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 23): Tension rises in Sultan Kudarat town as MILF prevents return of IDPs

The municipal government of Palembang, Sultan Kudarat has asked the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) ceasefire panel to intervene so the 500 civilians displaced by armed conflict could return home.

Zahara Maulana, Palembang municipal administrator, said the Philippine Marines, using its six-by-six trucks, have assisted the local government in sending back the displaced families to their homes in the upland village of Napnapon Friday morning.

However, tension ran high when Commander Teng Binago of the MILF refused entry for military vehicles with the displaced families into the village. Palembang is south of Cotabato City and is about four-hour drive from here.

”The refusal of Commander Binago triggered tension because there was already an arrangement that the military will escort the displaced families back home,” Maulana said, adding the GPH-MILF ceasefire panel has been officially informed.

The civilians, mostly Moro women and children, fled last month after Commander Binago and another MILF commander figured in a shooting war over land dispute.

Maulana said the local government have extended assistance to the displaced families and many of whom wanted to return home so they can continue farming.

With the refusal of Commander Binago to allow entry of military vehicles forced government forces to bring back the internally displaced persons (IDPs) to the municipal gymnasium where they stayed for more than a month.

Maulana later learned that Commander Binago would only allow the return of civilian evacuees if the soldiers will not enter the village of Napnapon.

But Maulana told reporters in a phone interview that the village is not within identified territories of the MILF that coming in the area needs coordination.

In the meantime, Maulana said, the IDPs will continue to receive assistance from the local social welfare office.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=818817