MILF says Muslim man murdered near Philippine military post

BASILAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / January 31, 2010) – The Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, has urged authorities Sunday to investigate the murder of a Muslim village near a military post in the troubled southern province of Basilan.

It said Najim Nitih was found dead several meters away from the military post in the village of Al-Barka late Saturday. The 28-year old motorcycle taxi driver was heading home when he was fatally shot.

No group or individual claimed responsibility for the attack. The MILF said the victim’s family and relatives sought its help to probe the killing which they blamed to soldiers manning the military post.

“Relatives who buried Najim late last night believed that the Marines who fired upon and killed the innocent victim,” the MILF said.

There was no immediate statement from the military about the accusation.

Last year, unidentified gunmen also ambushed the mayor of Al-Barka town, Karam Jakilan, killing him instantly and two of his aides in Basilan. Jakilan was returning to Al-Barka when he was attacked.

Al-Barka is a known MILF lair where 14 soldiers were killed - ten of them beheaded - in a firefight with rebels and Abu Sayyaf militants in July 2007.

The MILF is currently negotiating peace with Manila, but despite a cease-fire agreement, sporadic clashes still continue in many parts of Mindanao, including Basilan, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region. (Mindanao Examiner)