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Muslim Activists in Philippines Criticize Military Over Fake Reports
MANILA, Sept 4 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), based in Central Mindanao, on Tuesday accused the Armed Forces of the Philippines of returning to the use of "dirty tactics" in order to promote chaos and confusion among the Bangsamoro people.
The statement made by MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu referred to alleged intelligence reports that a top leader of the Islamic group was critically ill and dying of cancer.
Over the weekend, Philippine military intelligence reported that the "Amerul Mujahideen" and MILF Chairman Salamat Hashim was sick with cancer.
Kabalu denied the report stating it was plain and simple propaganda, the intention of which "is to malign and discredit the MILF leadership".
Kabalu added that this was an attempt to derail an upcoming third round of talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and MILF Peace Panels scheduled for this month.
The venue for the panels will be either Kuala Lumpur or Brunei Darussalam.
"We are already used to this kind of intrigue," Kabalu said, recalling that in 2000 the military reported that Chairman Salamat Hashim and Commander Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim were dead, and that Murad's dead body was buried in Maguindanao.
Another intelligence report said MILF leaders had already left the country taking with them boxes of gold bars in the wake of intensive ground and air attacks by the armed forces against bases of the movement.
The military also accused the MILF for connivance with the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan. It also said the MILF was behind the kidnapping of three Chinese citizens - two of them were killed in captivity by a "loose command" group of former MILF members.
Abu Musa, the leader of the ransom group, denied being an MILF member and said he was solely responsible for the kidnapping, what he himself described as an act of desperation after being "duped" by authorities over promises made.
Musa left the MILF and surrendered to the Philippines government while the deposed former Joseph Estrada was still president. Estrada had promised monetary assistance and reintegration into the society to any of those who would surrender to the government.
The MILF said in a statement sent to IslamOnline, that the military had connived with the Abu Sayyaf. "As a matter of fact, [a] Congress[ional] investigation on the issue of collusion between the Abu Sayyaf Group and military is still underway."
Kabalu said the military also manufactured reports claiming the MILF was responsible for the killing of Father Rufus Halley of Malabang, Lanao del Sur.
He denied any MILF involvement in the murder, noting the fact that the perpetrators were properly identified as former members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and not the MILF as reported.
"This morning the military also came out with reports that 15 MILF forces were killed in an encounter in Maguindanao, yet, they cannot substantiate their allegation," Kabalu added.
The MILF's official spokesman insisted the military was against the peace treaty signed in Malaysia a month ago between the GRP and the MILF.
The MILF urged the military not to force a collapse of the peace talks. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has gone all out to reach an agreement with the MILF, ending 20 years of bloody insurgency in the region.
The President said she would persist in her efforts to rid the country of armed rebellion, promising Muslims a better deal and a chance for rehabilitation never offered before.
With additional reporting by Kazi Mahmood
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