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MILF Denies Supporting War Against Sayyaf
by Kazi Mahmood
KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (IslamOnline) - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Saturday rebuffed reports claiming it had declared support in favor of the "all-out war" initiated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's government against the Abu Sayyaf in the provinces of Basilan and Jolo.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu denied the assertions when interviewed by Zamboanga-based DXCL Radyo Ukay, clarifying that MILF support would only be possible if there was government request made through the proper channels, he emphasized.
Arroyo's declaration of "all-out war" was precipitated by the Abu Sayyaf's threat to behead their captive, American Jeffrey Schilling, and present it as a gift on her 54th birthday celebration.
The group suspended the beheading after Schilling's mother pleaded for the life of her only son after she disembarked in Manila and held an emotional press conference at the U.S. Embassy.
Before the announcement of Schilling's beheading postponement, the Abu Sayyaf suffered a sweeping rejection by the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the Philippines who refused to negotiate for them with the Arroyo regime.
Kabalu said sometime in May last year, the MILF made a formal offer to the government extending its arms to assist in the Abu Sayyaf crisis in Basilan and Jolo, but was turned down on the ground that the government's mechanism for the purpose was already in place.
Since then, the Sayyaf has been intensifying its activities in Sulu province, expanding its activities, and taking foreign hostages of various nationalities from Sipadan Island, Sabah, Malaysia.
The Abu Sayyaf states that it is fighting for the establishment of an independent Islamic state in Sulu province.
The "all-out war" of former president Joseph Estrada's government failed to neutralize the group's nefarious activity. At the time, the military claimed the group had less than a thousand members.
The MILF has thus renewed its appeal to Arroyo's government saying it was concerned on the possible loss of lives and damage to property in the face of the on going "all-out war" against the rag-tag group.
At the same time, the MILF also warned the government to slow down offensive actions so that civilians and other groups who have no relation with the Sayyaf will not be involved in the all-out war.
Stating that it was obvious the military was not achieving much success against the Abu Sayyaf, the MILF said it is maintaining a sizeable number of forces near areas where the Sayyaf group is reportedly encamped, Kabalu admitted.
The MILF claims reported victims shown on television were non-Abu Sayyaf members, adding that they were civilians mostly caught by indiscriminate shelling by combined Philippine military ground, sea and air bombings.
Except for some parts of Basilan and Jolo, where military's all-out offensive is taking place against the Abu Sayyaf, the rest of Mindanao continues enjoying a bit of peace.
Kabalu has expressed satisfaction with MILF forces religious compliance with the cessation of hostilities, which took effect on April 3, 2001, declaring that as there were no major skirmishes reported between the MILF and the Philippine military.
Meanwhile, the MILF continues to deny reports circulating that an "unwritten agreement" was made between the MILF and Arroyo representatives who met in Kuala Lumpur last March.
The MILF insisted it did not drop its independence bid in exchange for a Philippine decision not to invoke the country's constitution and territorial integrity arguments for the duration of the peace negotiations.
Kabalu said the rumors implied the MILF was now willing to settle for less than independence.
Kabalu quickly rebuffed this information saying it is a product of speculations intended to recondition the people's mind in relation to the Philippines policy of keeping its own territory under the Philippine constitution.
Peace talks between the MILF and the Philippine's government had been stalled for a long time due to the imposition of government policy limiting the parameter of the talks within the framework of the Philippine constitution and territorial integrity.
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