MILF appeals for peace as fighting rages in NCotabato

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) renewed calls for peace as fighting erupted Saturday in some areas in North Cotabato between rebel forces and government militias. The MILF, the country's largest Muslim rebel group, have been negotiating an end to more than four decades of bloody fighting for the establishment of a separate homeland in Mindanao. Rebels have occupied several villages in North Cotabato province, which the MILF is claiming as part of the ancestral domain and so are more than 700 villages across the strife-torn, but mineral-rich island of Mindanao. Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano said rebels have begun withdrawing, although slowly, from North Cotabato since Thursday night. Although there were no reports of casualties, the Saturday fighting is threatening Monday's elections in Maguindanao, one of five provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which is being claimed by the MILF as part of its ancestral land. A government ultimatum to totally pull out the rebel forces on Friday has failed and the MILF blamed militias for the clashes in five North Cotabato towns. Authorities accused the MILF of pillaging civilian areas and attacking government forces since last month after North Cotabato opposed its inclusion to a government deal with the MILF that would dismember the province. "We are for peace, but peace cannot stay long if it is being threatened by those who oppose it. We want peace to reign. The MILF is optimistic the fighting will stop. We are appealing to everyone to support peace in Mindanao," said Eid Kabalu, a senior rebel leader, who accused militias in North Cotabato of attacking MILF forces. Kabalu said MILF forces couldn’t fully comply with the government ultimatum because of the attacks. "We wanted to reposition our forces, but we cannot because militias are firing on rebels. Philippine authorities should stop these attacks," he said. But North Cotabato Vice Gov. Emmanuel Piñol said there are no indications the rebels are pulling out from his province, particularly in Aleosan and Pikit, both farming towns where sporadic clashes erupted before sunrise on Saturday. "There are no indications at the moment that the rebels are pulling out in Aleosan area occupied by Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces," Piñol said on Saturday. He said villagers who fled their homes are eager to return to their farms. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo opened peace talks with the MILF in 2001, shortly after she deposed President Joseph Estrada in a people power revolution. But despite the peace talks, sporadic fighting between rebels and soldiers still continue in Mindanao with both sides accusing each other of violating a fragile truce accord. Peace negotiators last month also signed an agreement in Malaysia that will empower the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity to build, develop and maintain its own institutions, inclusive of civil service, electoral, financial and banking, education, legislation, legal, economic, police and internal security force, judicial system and correctional institutions necessary for developing a progressive Muslim society. The MILF previously accused Mrs. Arroyo of using the peace negotiations and the cease-fire deal to halt rebel attacks in Mindanao until her term ends in 2010. But there are fears that Mrs Arroyo may use the peace talks to prolong her stay in power beyond her term by amending the Constitution and switch to federal government. Presidential peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon said constitutional amendment is needed to allow plebiscite on areas under the ancestral domain that would make up the so-called Bangsamoro Juridical Entity and give Muslims their own homeland. "The President only wanted the peace talks to succeed and for the country to move on for a more progressive Philippines. Peace is what we really want to achieve here," he said. The MILF previously said it would not sign any peace deal with the Arroyo administration unless its demand for self-determination is granted. Last year, peace talks were also stalled after government negotiators reneged on the same deal. "Our demand for self-determination is non-negotiable," Kabalu said. The MILF wanted the ARMM elections postponed until a peace agreement is signed because the ancestral domain covers the whole of the Muslim autonomous region. The five-province in the autonomous region are Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Lanao and Maguindanao, including Marawi City. The ancestral domain also covers some areas in Zamboanga Peninsula, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces in Mindanao where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes. And also Palawan Island in central Philippines. The formal signing of the agreement on the ancestral domain, which was originally set on August 5 had been blocked by the Supreme Court after lawmakers opposed to the deal filed a petition to the stop the signing. The ancestral domain deal between Manila and the MILF triggered rallies and condemnation from different civil society groups and politicians and residents who are opposed to their inclusion to the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity. Tens of thousands of people in Zamboanga, North Cotabato, Iligan and Zamboanga cites rallied against the inclusion of their areas to the Muslim ancestral domain. - Al Jacinto