The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) attacked two military camps in central Mindanao at dawn yesterday to warn the government that further delays in the peace talks would spell trouble. At 5 a.m., mortars were fired almost simultaneously at military camps in Maitum, Sarangani and in Tugaig, Shariff Kabunsuan provinces, sending residents in nearby areas scampering in panic.
No casualties were reported among the soldiers.
However, two civilians were killed in the attack, according to Maj. Armando Rico, Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command chief.
Armed men were sighted in nearby Sultan Kudarat province to have boarded pump boats and headed towards Maitum town to reinforce the MILF, according to military reports.
Eid Kabalu, MILF civil-military affairs chief, said the attacks were launched by "some of our ground forces," who "are fed up with the government's delay" of the peace talks over the issue of a Muslim homeland in large tracts of Mindanao.
"Maybe this is already the warning that was brewing up as a result of the maneuvering and delays in the peace process employed by the government," he said.
However, the MILF leadership will order an investigation as they have "no knowledge" of the attack, he added.
Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, Army 6th Infantry Division regional spokesman, told The STAR troops were ordered not to retaliate to maintain the strict observance of the ceasefire with the MILF.
"The attack was a clear violation of the ceasefire," he said. "This is a desperate move of the MILF just to get attention."
Troops took cover as 81mm mortars hit the Army 37th Infantry Battalion command post near Camp Iranon in Tugaig town, a part of the former MILF stronghold of Camp Abu Bakr.
In 2000, the military captured Camp Abu Bakr after President Joseph Estrada ordered an all-out war against the MILF.
Ando called on the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the Bantay ceasefire to investigate the MILF's ceasefire violation.
"The Bantay ceasefire must look into this impingement of the MILF," he said.
"They (MILF) should not resort to shelling of mortars if they want to resolve demands."
- Roel Pareño, Edith Regalado/Philstar
http://beta.ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20080626/tph-milf-military-central-mindanao-541dfb4.htmlThis just shows how ugly the MILF are..They are just a bunch of thieves, cowards, and liars..
I hope the international community condemns them..If they want peace,LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS and NO MORE DEMANDS!!
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