MILF Rebels, Troops Clash In Basilan Island

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 25, 2008) – Fighting erupted Sunday between Muslim rebels and government soldiers in Basilan island, south of the Philippines.

The clash broke out near the village of Baguindan in Tipo-Tipo town, scene of a recent fighting between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and security forces. The MILF, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group is currently negotiating peace with the government.

“The soldiers again attacked our positions in Tipo-Tipo town and fighting is going on,” Mohagher Iqbal, chief MILF peace negotiator, told the Mindanao Examiner.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, but many civilians have already fled some villages in Tipo-Tipo for fear they would be caught in the crossfire or trapped in the fighting.

Police also deployed forces in the area to secure the civilians. It did not say how many people had fled their homes. “We are awaiting reports from the ground,” said Senior Superintendent Salik Macapantar, the provincial police chief.

Iqbal said government troops attacked the MILF forces, triggering a fierce firefight. “The military violated again the cease-fire agreement. Our forces are just responding to military attacks and rebels are only defending themselves,” he said.

The MILF has repeatedly warned security forces to stay away near rebel camps and soldiers had been reported encroaching in those areas and sparking sporadic clashes.

Last week, soldiers fired on armed rebels working at a farm in Baguindan village, igniting hours of sporadic clashes in Tipo-Tipo town, Iqbal said.

Military officials have issued conflicting statements about the fighting and said troops clashes with the Abu Sayyaf. Other officials said the MILF attacked a group of marines securing a road project in the town.

The MILF has accused the Arroyo government of delaying the peace talks after negotiations were stalled last year over demands for Muslim ancestral domain.

Rebel leaders said the ancestral domain is the single most important issue in the peace negotiations before they can reach a political settlement and with the talks stalled; the hope of ending more than three decades of bloody hostilities remains dim.

Manila said the provisions of the peace agreement should be within the framework of the Constitution. Government negotiators, led by Rodolfo Garcia, had previously approved the ancestral domain only to renege on the deal later.

Sporadic clashes had been reported in Mindanao since last month after Malaysia, which is brokering the peace talks, pulled out its truce observers because of the slow progress of the negotiations. Malaysia has blamed the Arroyo government for the delay in the talks.

Security forces also raided the house of Mike Dalem, an MILF political officer, in Buluan town in Maguindanao province last week. Iqbal said the raid was illegal and violated the cease-fire agreement the government signed with the MILF.

The MILF previously said the Philippine military have been building up its forces in Mindanao the past weeks and it fears that renewed hostilities may break out because troops were reported massing near areas controlled by rebels in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provinces. (Mindanao Examiner)