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Fresh Army Movements Undermine Philippines Government SOMO, Ceasefire
3 August 2009
The uncoordinated big movements of the 46th Infantry Battalion (IB), Philippine Army in the municipality of Talitay, Maguindanao yesterday clearly undermined and jeopardized the president’s recent declaration of suspension of military offensives in the conflict affected communities. This was the reaction of a ground commander of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who reported the sudden full combat gear deployment of government soldiers. He reported that some 200 army troops supported by four (4) tanks and armored vehicles suddenly entered Poblacion Talitay around 3pm. Local residents and MILF forces were so alarmed of the movements of the government forces, thinking of military offensives in the offing which would eventually escalate to adjacent areas and towns. However, when local residents asked for reasons for deployment, the government soldiers were mum. The government troops were still roaming the area on foot until late evening, said the ground commander, adding that the government soldiers were suspiciously checking on every person going to the Masjid (Mosque). He even said that scores of government soldiers stayed foot near the Masjid while more or less 60 soldiers stayed at the center of Poblacion where civilians and evacuees were also staying. The MILF commander suspected that the government soldiers were up for something, which he said would jeopardize the government SOMO, hence, could only be blamed on them. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued the SOMO last July 23, 2009 to pave the way for the resumption of stalled peace negotiation with the MILF. MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim reciprocated by issuing suspension of military actions in the entire area of responsibility of MILF. In the State of the Nation Address delivered last July 27, 2009, President Arroyo “there is now a good prospect for peace talks both with both the Communist Party of the Philippines and the MILF … and there is nothing more that I would wish for than peace in Mindanao. It will be a blessing for all its people, Muslim, Christian and lumads. It will show other religiously divided communities that there can be common ground on which to live together in peace, harmony and cooperation that respects each other’s religious beliefs.” On July 28 – 29, 2009, the government and MILF peace negotiating panels held a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A Joint Statement duly signed by Amb. Rafael Seguis, GRP Panel Chairman, Mohagher Iqbal, MILF Panel Chairman, and Datuk Othman Bin Abdul Razak, Malaysian Third Party Facilitator, was issued after the special meeting which cited among others the need for mutual effort to sustain both the government SOMO and the MILF SOMA. The policy statement by the peace panels will be in peril if government troops continue to move in big combat formations in the conflict affected areas that are subject of the government SOMO. These uncoordinated massive deployment and movements of government forces constitute blatant violations of the existing agreement on cessation of hostilities between the government and MILF.
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