Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. AP FILE PHOTO
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) accused the military of war posturing and violating the existing ceasefire agreement by deploying troops “in full battle gear” near rebel-identified areas in Maguindanao.
“This nature of uncoordinated movement can trigger untoward
incidents and worse, fierce encounter between the government and MILF
forces,” Rasid Ladiasan, head of the MILF ceasefire secretariat, said
in a media statement on Saturday.
Ladiasan said heavy troop movement on the side of the
military was monitored near MILF camps
in Datu Unsay, Datu Saudi
and Datu Piangtowns in Maguindanao starting Saturday
morning.
He said the “uncoordinated” massive movements, as reported
by MILF field commanders, were monitored in the adjacent villages
of Kitango, Tatapan, Kitapok, Maitumaig and Pagatin,
which form part of the three towns. Even civilians plying the Cotabato-General Santos Highway
also witnessed military trucks moving into the towns, he said.
Ladiasan pointed out that under the 1997 GPH
(Government of the Philippines)-MILF ceasefire accord, massive troop movements
in areas near MILF camps should be coordinated with the joint GPH-MILF Coordinating
Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action
Group (AHJAG).
“Clearly any major movement that is not normal
administrative functions like this case constitute ceasefire violations when
the CCCHs did not coordinate. The government forces know this very well but
unfortunately they acted in contravention,” Ladiasan said.
Since the MILF was not informed before hand, it was treating
the “uncoordinated” movements as “provocative,” he said.
“We do not want any tension or confrontational situation to
grip in between MILF and government forces otherwise we are being remiss with
our responsibility,” he said.
“The MILF CCCH is going to file a strong protest on this
incident as the proper way to address this situation,” he added.
Ladiasan said the MILF has also appealed to the
government ceasefire team, headed by Brig. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr.,
to enhance coordination – especially at this time when the government and MILF
have been confronting major challenges on the Bangsamoro Basic Law
(BBL) following the review and changes made by the government review team in
the draft that the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) had
submitted to Malacañang.
Efforts to reach the military commander, who has
jurisdiction over Maguindanao, have repeatedly failed.
But as early as last week, the Philippine Army’s 6th
Infantry Division spokesperson, Col. Dickson Hermoso, had made public the
military’s intention to deploy more soldiers
against Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters’ gunmen responsible for a
series of harassment against government troops in Maguindanao and the
nearby province
of North Cotabato .
At least 18 people, 17 BIFF men and one soldier, were killed
in the violence that started July 21.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/623777/milf-slams-militarys-troop-deployment-as-war-posturing
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.