Ramos nixes military action vs Moro rebels

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga – Former President Fidel Ramos said the Moro separatist conflict in Mindanao will not be solved by "military means" but by "social, economic, cultural and people-to-people components."

"As an old soldier, I will be the first to emphasize that we cannot solve (the Moro separatist problem) by military means," said Ramos, who was Armed Forces chief and defense secretary before he became president in 1992.

In an interview during yesterday’s launch of the Philippine International Furniture Show at the Expo Pilipino theme park here, Ramos said, "The threats in our southern backdoor are threats that should be handled the holistic way, not just by military means."

The other day, President Arroyo ordered the military to stop its offensive against at least a thousand Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels and suspected kidnappers near Pikit town in North Cotabato.

The order was reportedly in view of the observance of the end of the Muslim haj (pilgrimage to Mecca).

Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza said the President might have also considered the future of the peace talks with the MILF, adding, however, that he did not know how long the cessation of hostilities would hold.

Ramos also lashed at reports coming from US sources that the US military would engage themselves in combat against the Abu Sayyaf during the joint military exercises in Sulu. Malacañang has denied these reports.

"The trouble is sometimes Washington comes out with premature statements about this and that which put the Philippine government, especially the President and the Cabinet, on the defensive," he said.

Ramos urged both the Philippine and US governments to "coordinate statements well and simultaneously, if possible" on issues related to joint military exercises.

He said the President "is operating fully" under the provisions of the Philippine-US Military Defense Treaty of 1953, which is complemented by the Visiting Forces Agreement.