The ceasefire agreement with government recognizes the group's right to discipline its own men, an MILF leader says
NO SURRENDER. A file photo of the aftermath of the January 25 clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Photo by Mark Navales/AFP
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said it disciplines its own men, and that this policy is stated in the ceasefire agreement it signed with government.
Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator, stressed this following calls for the rebel movement to surrender their troops and commanders involved in the January 25 clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, that resulted in the death of 44 police commandos who carried out a mission to terminate the Malaysian bomb terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir. A total of 18 MILF rebels and at least 3 civilians were also killed in the incident.
Iqbal said by phone that the ceasefire agreement between both sides states that it's the MILF's responsibility to impose disciplinary measures against members found to have violated any ceasefire provision. In the same manner, Iqbal added, the government is responsible for punishing its own forces who violate the ceasefire pact.
“We will follow what we have agreed with them in the mechanism,” Iqbal said, adding the MILF cannot guarantee the turnover to government of members who took part in the fierce fighting.
The January 25 clash threatens the peace agreement forged by both sides last year and which they hope to implement through the approval of the Bangsamoro Basic Law that will set the stage for the creation of a regional government. But congressional hearings on the law have been suspended.
The police leadership has accused the MILF of an “overkill” in the January 25 encounter. The MILF said its forces acted in self-defense. (READ: No 'overkill' in Mamasapano)
President Benigno Aquino III has called on the MILF to show good faith by surrendering the weapons they seized that day and arresting one terrorist who escaped the attack, Abdul Basit Usman.
On February 18, the MILF returned to the government peace panel 16 firearms confiscated from the police Special Action Force.
Iqbal said this gesture was difficult enough. “It was hard to convince them because what happened there was a legitimate encounter and we also lost men,” he said.
The MILF commanders who reportedly led the units involved in the January 25 clash include Sakaria Goma, Ustdads Nanan, Abdurahman Upan and Sansudin Pakinda.
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