| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Gloria gives surrender ultimatum to MILF |
| 2003-03-01 |
| While the government wants to pursue peace talks with the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), it will exercise no let up in its war until they come to the negotiating table. President Gloria Arroyo announced this yesterday as she renewed all-out military offensives against the MILF. "Negotiate now," she said, a statement seen as an ultimatum for the MILF guerrillas to talk peace with the government. "We want peace but (we) have to enforce the law," she said. "We have a call for the MILF to come to the peace table. We have given them the draft of the peace agreement and we have to run after those who break the law." Isn't there some sort of law against running an autonomous armed militia in opposition to the government? Maybe they should think about passing one... The president expressed optimism that the MILF will return to the negotiating table, noting that Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed has given word that Kuala Lumpur will help Manila pursue its peace talks. Hopefully by arresting some of its backers and controllers... Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Mayoralgo de la Cruz, Army spokesman, said the soldiers discovered four MILF camps in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat. He said troops were conducting clearing operations at Talayan town in Maguindanao province on Wednesday, when they discovered the safe house of the 202nd MILF brigade. On the same day, soldiers found two more MILF camps situated on the hill of Muti village in the same town. Lt Col Lopito Aceres said the camps have four outposts and the main headquarters have five bunkers that can house six people each, and a conference hall for 25 people. On Thursday, soldiers discovered an MILF camp with running trenches for 200 people while scouring the vicinity of Langandang village in Isulan town, Sultan Kudarat province. The camp was said to be the headquarters of MILF's Gazzanfar Basic Military Centre. In Zamboanga City, troops clashed with the MILF forces in Sultan Kudarat, killing one gunman, the military said yesterday. The Philippines has let MILF get entirely too well-organized and let them build up entirely too much of a power base, especially since their intention is to gnaw off a piece of the country for the khalifate... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |