Offensive vs MILF suspended

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo has ordered a suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) in central Mindanao and other areas where Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces operate to pave the way for the resumption of peace talks with the country’s largest Muslim rebel group.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the duration of the SOMO was indefinite and would take effect immediately.

“The President issued today a policy directive to advance stability and peace in the conflict-affected areas of Mindanao, intensify and sustain law enforcement measures, and provide a stable environment for the resumption of the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the MILF,” Ermita announced during a hastily-called press conference at the Palace with chief government negotiator Ambassador Rafael Seguis and Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.

Ermita hopes there would be a “reciprocal action from the other side.”

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Victor Ibrado said that with this directive, troops would now cease to launch “punitive operations” against the Muslim separatist rebels all over strife-torn Mindanao.

In a statement, the military also said the move “will make way for a more stable environment for the peace talks between the government and the MILF.”

All ground commanders on Mindanao island “were directed to strictly comply with this directive,” the military said, but will maintain an active defense mode, which was ordered by Mrs. Arroyo, to protect civilians and vital government installations from MILF attacks.

The order to revert to active defense mode was also ordered since this was provided for in various written government directives, including the “Guidelines on the Primacy of the Peace Process” and the “Reminders on the GRP-MILF Peace Process.”

“This actually sets the stage for the resumption of the peace talks,” Remonde said.

Ermita said the move was upon the recommendation of the government negotiating panel.

Seguis said the move was unilateral on the part of the government and it was hopeful the MILF would respond similarly in the next few days.

The officials, however, failed to clearly explain the context of the SOMO as there is already an existing ceasefire agreement with the MILF signed in 2003. Talks with the MILF collapsed in August last year after both sides failed to sign the controversial Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain that was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

The incident triggered deadly clashes between government forces and MILF rebels that left over 300 civilians dead and thousands displaced.

The MILF leadership disowned the attacks and blamed it on the “renegades” in their ranks, who happen to be their top commanders.

Seguis skirted questions on whether the SOMO was sought by the MILF or the Malaysian government, which is acting as facilitator of the talks.

“As far as the (peace) panel is concerned, the SOMO can help a lot in providing an environment for the resumption of talks, this is also a confidence building measure, which would encourage the MILF to return to the negotiating table,” he said.

Seguis said the purpose of the SOMO is not only to stop hostilities between both sides but also “to protect innocent civilians and reduce the mounting number of IDPs (internally displaced persons).”

He said Mrs. Arroyo was very concerned about the condition of the IDPs, numbering over 200,000 as of last count.

“I’ve seen their deplorable condition and we hope that with this SOMO, there would be no more IDPs, they’ll be able to return to their places, and continue to go to school,” Seguis said.

Ermita said the Philippine National Police (PNP) would continue to undertake its pursuit operations to bring to justice the three renegade MILF commanders believed to be responsible for the attacks in central Mindanao and other areas in the South, and the Armed Forces will only play a support role.

He said the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf is not covered by the SOMO.

Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza called on all sectors to support the SOMO. “The SOMO augurs well in moving forward the peace efforts in Mindanao. President Arroyo’s commitment to a peaceful settlement with the rebels, even in the face of challenges, is unwavering. The building blocks for peace in Southern Philippines are further reinforced. Let everyone, rebels and non-rebels alike, take the bold step of sustaining together the peace paradigm. Now of high priority is the humanitarian assistance for the thousand civilians who are affected by the conflict,” Dureza said.

 ‘Put an end to killings of innocent civilians’

Meanwhile, a Mindanao-based bishop yesterday asked warring parties in the region to return to the negotiating table and put an end to the killings of innocent civilians.

Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo yesterday issued “An Open Appeal for Peace and Our Evacuees” where he expressed his objection to the continued killings in Mindanao, whether these are being committed by terrorists, or as products of war, raids or operations.

In his statement, Archbishop Quevedo did not mention any specific group he believed is responsible for the violence in Mindanao.

“To all warring parties, as a religious leader I respect your causes, although I may not agree with your methods. But precisely because I am a religious leader I strongly condemn every violent act perpetrated that has no concern for the innocent,” said Quevedo, who once served as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

“There is no human conflict that cannot be solved through a genuine honest dialogue of the heart,” he said.

He described the bombing activities of terrorists as “serious moral evil” because they target the innocent, conduct punitive raids on villages and plant to-whom-it-may-concern landmines that could kill anyone passing by. With Jaime Laude, Evelyn Macairan