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MILF Slams Army for Truce Violation
MANILA, July 2 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front condemned on Sunday the attack on its strongholds in Basilan, stressing that the military action was a violation of the cease-fire forged by the MILF and the government in Libya last week.
Both warring factions signed a peace agreement two weeks ago in Tripoli, Libya. The MILF, via its leader Hashim Salamat, said to IslamOnline that it was respecting the peace accord and that there were no skirmishes in Mindanao involving its troops.
The movement however deplored the attacks that targeted the MILF camps in Tuburan, Basilan without provocation. There were no reports of casualties on either side.
IslamOnline is able to report that the attack will not have direct bearing on the peace talks that will resume probably this very week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
However, it is possible that there is a statement given by the military command of the MILF on the situation in Basilan, after its troops gave way to the army in its efforts to counter the Abu Sayyaf.
It was confirmed, that the army used 105 m howitzers to bombard MILF strongholds. The army had orders to attack any suspicious armed groups, including the MILF and its major counter part the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Members of the MILF and MNLF in Basilan have been accused by the military of supporting ASG bandits, who continue to be pursued by troops.
The bandits continue to hold 23 hostages, four of whom have been beheaded and 12 released, allegedly after huge ransom payoffs were made.
In Manila however, several observers were ready to agree that the peace agreement between the MILF and the Philippines government was a demonstration of the wisdom and value of patient pursuits and explorations of means to attain peace and unity in Mindanao.
They said that the government of the Philippines under Arroyo, called a "good lady" by Hashim Salamat, respected the aspirations of the people of the Philippines.
"Consultations with the Bangsa Moro people without any precondition will be held as no policy will be implemented in the affected areas of Mindanao without first recognizing the sentiments of the people," said an editorialist on Sunday.
The Leader of the MILF said he believed the peace agreement would surely pave the way for the eventual implementation of development programs.
Another observer said that the peace treaty is an agreement for the development process and the progress of the people in the southern Philippines region.
Most observers agreed that education, repairs of houses and special funds to rebuild and to help the Bangsamoro in new business ventures should be provided by the government.
The MILF however, insisted that the government of Arroyo did not have the capacity to cough up the sum that would be needed for these programs.
"Islamic nations involved in the peace negotiations, such as Libya, Malaysia, Indonesia and even Brunei promised help to the Arroyo administration."
"This help will cover the rehabilitation program covering the Moroland," Salamat told IslamOnline.
The Moro people have led the most ferocious and longest war in history, stretching over a 400-year period and confronted with different invading forces.
Their troubles started with the invasion of conquistadors from Spain, who had extreme difficulties in subduing Moro land within its rule, and finally acquiesced to the fact that the Bangsamoro people could not be brought under their wing.
It took both the British and Dutch to break the strength of the Moro people with the defeat of the Sulu Sultanate. The Japanese invasion during World War II, and U.S. intervention in the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos met with stiff resistance from the Moro people.
The Bangsamoro people, Hashim Salamat told IslamOnline, have suffered enough and their main objective is to reach a peace agreement with the Philippines government.
He, however, never dismissed independence as the final objective of the MILF, backed by the Moro people, whether they are supporters of the MNLF or the Abu Sayyaf.
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