Saturday, January 30, 2021

BARMM reaches out to Moro lawless groups

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 30, 2021): BARMM reaches out to Moro lawless groups (By Edwin Fernandez)



BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Murad Ebrahim. (Photo by BIO-BARMM)

Efforts are underway to reach out to Moro lawless groups to return to the mainstream and build peace in the Bangsamoro region, Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) said.

"We are trying to open a dialogue with them, convincing them to join us, to join the government," Ebrahim told a news conference organized by the Foreign Correspondent Association of the Philippines during a peace forum on Friday.

Ebrahim said his emissaries held backdoor talks with officials and members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) I Maguindanao, the remnants of Maute terrorist group and BaSulTa (Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi) based Abu Sayyaf Group.

Two of the three factions of the BIFF operating in Maguindanao have also opened their doors for negotiations, he said.

Ebrahim said many outlawed Moro rebels have expressed willingness to join the mainstream and be with their families.

He said government law enforcement operations would continue BIFF radicals who refused to surrender.

About 200 BIFF still operate in various areas in Maguindanao, while almost the same number have already surrendered to the government through the Army’s 6th Infantry Division since 2017.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1129051

No comments:

Post a Comment

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