links: http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1480-mamasapano-clash-not-milf%E2%80%99s-fault
Mamasapano clash Not MILF’s fault
“The bloody encounter between Police Special Action Force and elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao was not the fault of the rebel group, said Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
The ‘misencounter’ as both the MILF and DILF Sec. Mar Roxas described it resulted to the death of 44 SAF members including 5 officers, wounding of 12 more and death of 5 MILF combatants. About three civilians were also killed in crossfire.
The police commandos were supposed to arrest Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli Bin Hir and Abu Sayyaf Group member Basit Usman but while retreating they intruded into a MILF controlled territory thus they exchanged fire resulting to the heavy toll. The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who also has a camp in the Tukanalipao area joined the firefight.
Both the government and the MILF said the incident was a case of “misencounter” due to absence of proper coordination.
Duterte said it was the government troops that entered the territory of the rebels, saying it was a violation of the agreement between the MILF and the government.
The carnage could have been avoided if only the government respected the agreement to not encroach MILF territories while a ceasefire is being observed.
“The loss of lives was really terrible,” he said. “Nanghinayang ako (I feel bad about it), because it was needless. But you can’t just enter that territory.”
Asked who is to blame? Duterte said “I am not going to blame the MILF because definitely it was in their territory, where we were not supposed to enter.”
“There is war and we are fixing it,” he said. “That is the reason (why the government gave the MILF its territory).”
The mayor also said that it would be very dangerous if the government and the MILF will end up abandoning the peace process following the carnage.
And declaring war against the MILF is like “creating a monster.” “We can’t just abandon the peace process because of the faux pas,” he said.
MILF Website
Article links:
BANGSAMORO FRAMEFORK
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTIONS WEBSITES
PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
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