(UPDATE) MILF chief calls for halt to fighting
By Jeoffrey Maitem, Edwin Fernandez
Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 14:58:00 08/23/2008
Filed Under: Unrest, Conflicts & War
CAMP DARAPANAN, Shariff Kabunsuan -- The leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front called for a cessation of military operations against some of its fighters so that government and the rebel group's peace panels could return to the negotiating table.
But Ebrahim Murad, chief of the country's largest Moro rebel group, insisted that there was no need to renegotiate the controversial Memorandum of Agreement on the Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD).
He said for both panels to resume the negotiations, the military should put an end to its operations against MILF commanders in Maguindanao and Lanao Del Norte.
"We are calling for a cessation of hostilities. We can go back again to the negotiating table with Malaysia as mediator. But the MOA-AD issue is non-negotiable. It's a done deal," Murad said.
Murad said the MILF was willing to return to the negotiating table to discuss the MOA-AD, the issue of the International Monitoring Team with its Malaysian members' tour of duty ending this month and the issue of two MILF commanders who led the attacks in North Cotabato and Lanao Del Norte.
Murad also warned of a possible collapse of the peace talks if the government would not reconsider its position of "reviewing" the MOA-AD.
"We are in the situation wherein the peace process is in dilemma. If the government will not change its position, the peace process would completely collapse," he said.
"The peace process is a continuing struggle. If it will not succeed, we will continue our struggle in any form," Murad added.
Guarded by fighters in camouflage uniforms and armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers, Murad said they will not renegotiate the MOA-AD, which calls for the creation a Bangsamoro homeland.
"Our position is firm. The MOA-AD is a done deal. We cannot allow renegotiating," Murad stressed.
Malacañang earlier said the government would not sign the memorandum of agreement in its present form because of the strong and widespread opposition to it and the new outbreak of violence in Mindanao.
"I believe that tracking our footprints on the negotiation path can help us tread peacefully using the MOA-AD as a great motivation on the way forward. After four years and eight months of negotiation, the MILF wants to keep going and see if we can leave behind the imprints of the past Moro wars, and the armed conflict of recent decades and so deal with the comprehensive pact," he said.
Murad explained the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity was an abstract idea that was hard for ordinary people to connect to.
"It's good to build public confidence around this conceptual framework with written instrument, for the peaceful negotiated settlement of age-old Moro problem," Murad said.
"The aborted signing in Malaysia is confirmation to wary investors and multi donors' countries on the incapability of the government of living up to its commitment and honoring agreements," he added.
The military has launched a series of operations against the Maguindanao-based 105th Base Command Commander Ombra Kato and Lanao-based MILF commander Abdulla Macapaar alias Commander Bravo, who were responsible for recent attacks in Mindanao.
"We call for the extension of the term of office of International Monitoring Team for them to investigate the alleged involvement of our commanders in separate attacks," Murad said.
He said he has asked Malaysia to convene the GRP-MILF peace panels as the military continued its offensive against Moro rebels in Maguindanao.
"We have sent the information to our facilitator two days ago, but no response to date," Murad said in a separate interview with the Inquirer after the formal news conference.
But while Murad was holding a news conference, the military's 6th Infantry Division continued pounding Moro rebels under Ombra Kato in the border between Maguindanao and North Cotabato.
Three civilians were killed Friday morning and scores wounded, reports from the field said.
"The police action will continue against Kato and his men and those who go with him," Colonel Julieto Ando, 6th Infantry Division spokesman, said.
Ando said the fatalities on the rebel side could reach up to 100 after four days of air-and-ground assaults.
Stressing the MILF has control over its commanders, Murad said Kato and Bravo's actuations were part of the Bangsamoro's frustration and outrage over the long-delayed peace process.
He said if the peace panels were convened, both sides will decide what to do with Bravo and Kato.
Murad warned of an escalation of hostilities if the military expanded its current offensive to areas beyond Kato’s sphere of operations.
"Our regular MILF forces in Maguindanao were also attacked, so the problem is getting bigger and it will not help the peace process," Murad said.
Reacting to government's call for the MILF to surrender Kato and Bravo, Murad said: "It is not logical for the GRP to tell us to surrender Commander Bravo and Commander Kato because they are not bound by Philippine laws."
Murad said what are only binding to the MILF and GRP are previous agreements that were agreed upon with Malaysia's facilitation.
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