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MILF Wants Referendum To Decide On Independence
by Kazi Mahmood
KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (IslamOnline) - A prayer was observed Sunday in Mindanao, Bangsamoro, in memoriam of the attack on Camp Abubakar last year, during an "all-out war" ordered by jailed former Philippine president Joseph Estrada.
In the wake of the prayers, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Salamat Hashim reiterated that the Bangsamoro people's right of self-determination and independence is non-negotiable, and that the issue must be decided in a referendum to be conducted in Muslim areas of the southern Philippines under the auspices of the United Nations (U.N.) or the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).
Salamat maintained that if one province, or even a municipality, alone decides on independence, this should be respected and independence must be granted.
Salamat also said it was premature to determine if the "all-out peace" in Mindanao staged by Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will bring any substantial results.
"We are still observing and evaluating her approach to the resolution of the conflict in Mindanao. However, her recent appointment of 'hawkish' generals to head the defense and military establishment makes us wonder as where her 'all-out peace' policy will lead her government," he said.
Nonetheless, the MILF is always ready and prepared for any eventuality, be it adverse or otherwise, Salamat firmly declared.
He said the Bangsamoro land was different now and had to be seen in its new perspective.
"We have the Bangsamoro people, the indigenous highlander communities, and the Christian settler people," he commented, adding, "While we struggle for the restoration of the Bangsamoro people's right to self-determination and independence, we also recognize and support the same inherent right of these particular groups."
"If the indigenous highlander communities and Christian settler people each want to have their own separate independent state, then we shall support this.
"If they wish to federate with the Bangsamoro people, or be part of the independent Bangsamoro state, we shall also support this decision," Salamat clarified.
Salamat explained that for the MILF, what is important is that the right of the people of Mindanao to self-determination - the inherent right to chart their own future - is accepted, recognized and respected by the Manila government.
Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman, said the prayers were a way of remembrance of the attack.
He said the first skirmishes took place at about 4:30 in the early morning of April 28, 2000, when elements of the Philippines' 603rd Brigade pounded MILF forces positioned at Barangay Matampay, Buldon, Maguindanao.
He added that the attack, however, was found to be a ploy intended to divert MILF attention, which was then concentrated along the Narciso Ramos Highway.
"True enough, the following day, a combined force of army, scout rangers and marines started assaulting MILF troop positions at Narciso Ramos Highway in Matanog and Barira, Maguindanao.
"The assault was made despite the signing of the 'Aide Memoire' by the Philippines government and MILF Peace Panels at almost 12:00 o'clock midnight on April 27, 2000," he said.
The agreement addressed items including the Narciso Ramos Highway and Camp Abubakar's defense perimeter. Then president Estrada disregarded this and all other previous existing agreements, and ordered military commanders to launch the "all-out attack".
Kabalu added that Estrada wanted to annihilate the MILF off the face of the earth. "After all, the Bangsamoros are not Filipinos," Estrada was quoted as saying in the wake of the attack.
"Mr. Estrada popularized the word 'pulverize' when he issued the order for continuous ground and air bombing, utilizing all and every resource available in the army's arsenals against MILF positions at Camp Abubakar," Kabalu said.
Despite the armed forces' superior armaments, the MILF's mujahideen were able to defend themselves against the Philippine army, successfully holding their line for approximately three months.
The MILF leadership, however, later decided to abandon the semi-conventional tactic and shifted to highly mobile guerilla tactics, thus, allowing the army to occupy some portions of Camp Abubakar.
"When Mr. Estrada realized the failure of his 'all-out war policy', he then shifted to the legal battle through the issuances of 'warrant of arrest' [and] money rewards against MILF leaders, of course, based on fabricated evidence," recalled Kabalu.
"Fortunately, not a single MILF leader was kicked out from their positions, arrested or jailed.
"But Mr. Estrada had been ousted from his position, arrested and now languishing at a detention cell," Kabalu added.
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