Gov’t, MILF to discuss Basilan encounter in KL meeting Thursday
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—Government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front negotiators are set to meet in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday in what a Moro spokesman described as an “executive meeting” that will take up the recent killing of 19 soldiers in Al-Barka, Basilan.
Von Al Haq, MILF spokesperson for military affairs, described the “executive meeting” between the government panel and MILF panel led by Mohaqer Iqbal as a “good sign.”
“Even if it’s just an executive meeting, we see something positive here. We are expecting them to discuss issues surrounding the Al-Barka incident and most likely the question on coordination and, hopefully, other issues that will open up to real formal talks,” he said.
Nineteen soldiers were killed in an encounter with MILF rebels in Al-Barka last Oct 18. Government forces were allegedly sent to the area to arrest people behind the beheading of Marine soldiers in 2007. The MILF, however, said the military should have coordinated with it before taking any action in rebel territory.
Coordination, or the lack of it, would be one of the main issues to be taken up during the Kuala Lumpur meeting, Al Haq said, adding that a lot of statements have come out but have not necessarily answered the question of “of what really happened” in Al-Barka on October 18.
Meanwhile, as the two peace panels prepare to sit down in Malaysia, thousands of displaced residents in Al-Barka are running short of potable water, food and medicines.
Some of the evacuees, especially children, are ill with fever, cough, diarrhea and stomach pains, according to local officials.
Al-Barka Mayor Muhammad Kabukisan said the main town hall in Bato-bato has virtually turned into one big evacuation center for more than 200 families from at least eight villages.
“Ito yung wala talagang matuluyang kamag-anak. Halos ubos na ang tubig namin sa tangke. Wala kaming mga comfort rooms dito. Sa damuhan, sa tabi-tabi na lang dumudumi ang mga bakwit (These are people who have no relatives to run to. Our water tank is nearly empty. We have no toilets here and the evacuess defecate on the grass nearby),” Kabukisan said.
Some 1,700 other families are staying with relatives and friends.
At daytime, some the evacuees return to their farms and homes to get supplies, but have to return to spend the night away from their villages.
“Mahirap talaga sitwasyon namin dito, kahit ako mayor, bakwit din (Our situation here is really difficult. Even I, the mayor, am an evacuee),” Kabukisan said.
Asked what happened to the P2-million relief assistance announced by Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman on October 28, Kabukisan said: “I do not know. It’s hard for us to ask about it. People might think that we are just after the money.”
He said so far, two relief distributions have been conducted in his municipality—on October 20 in the village of Magkawa and on October 22 in the village of Bato-bato.
“Since then, no help has arrived,” he said.
The mayor said the evacuees were wiating for word from the provincial government as to when they could go home, but Basilan Vice Gov. Al Rasheed Sakalahul said they could not allow the evacuees to return to their homes without approval from “higher ups like the military and police.”
Sakalahul also wondered where the P2 million given by Soliman had gone. “There is no report on whether or not this (relief fund) has been disposed of,” Sakalahul said.
meanwhile, in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay province, Mayor Joepher Mendoza said 166 families or about 830 individuals were still afraid to return to their homes in Sitio Talaib.
Mendoza said that while the village has been secured by military and police forces, residents fear fighting would resume.
Most of the evacuees are in Talusan town, which is nearer their homes than the town center of Payao.
Mendoza said they will continue providing relief goods to the evacuees until they return to their homes.
