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Philippines: Hashim Salamat And Companions On Estrada Hit List
by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA (IslamOnline) - Philippines President Joseph Estrada said Monday that he was prepared to wage an all out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) starting with the revocation of the amnesty offered to the separatist movement.
Observers in Manila said Estrada’s government has decided to place Hashim Salamat, leader of the MILF, and close associates on an army hit list.
The army’s mission is to capture or destroy MILF leaders.
For its part, the Philippine army said Sunday it was ready to assist the national police in efforts to capture MILF leaders.
It supported the views of Philippine defense secretary Orlando Mercado that the MILF should pay for the December 30th bombings that killed 22 and wounded almost a hundred others in Manila.
The MILF has denied the allegations and said they were being used as scapegoats by the Estrada administration.
However, reports by opposition groups deny the MILF, or any other group, was responsible for the bombings, instead laying blame on the Philippine government.
Estrada’s order to resume war in the southern Philippines has been heavily criticized by the opposition and Muslims in Manila. They say the MILF has become pawns in a deadly game with the Estrada regime.
The opposition points out that Estrada, who is facing a crucial and potentially damaging impeachment trial, is using the bombing to divert attention from the real dangers the country is facing.
The MILF, for its part, has not relinquished efforts to continue its battle for supremacy in the southern Philippines with several attacks staged Saturday against army detachments and outposts.
At least 12 persons, including two members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit, were wounded in several clashes between Philippines Armed Forces and the MILF.
Almost simultaneous encounters were reported in the hinterland areas of the towns of Kauswagan, Munai, Magsaysay and Tubod Saturday morning, reported the ABS-CBN news network Monday.
More than 500 heavily armed MILF members attacked a military detachment Saturday indicating the group is stepping up war efforts and is still very well equipped.
The same report said the MILF attacked another military installation using mortars on Sunday. The resulting firefight lasted for almost an hour.
The Philippine Air Force launched several air strikes in Magsaysay following reports the MILF has begun building a new camp replacing Camp Abubakar, seized last year by government troops.
The MILF is fighting the longest running war on the globe, with the aim of establishing an Islamic state in the Mindanao region, home to more than five million Muslims of Malay and mixed origins.
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