Jeff
07-22-2007, 04:09 PM
The Sunday Times
July 22, 2007
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has put its forces on high alert in response to the military’s warning of an all-out war if the MILF does not surrender by Monday its fighters who clashed with Marines in Basilan last week.
The Luwaran, the MILF web*site, quoted a spokesman for the General Staff of the Bang*samoro Islamic Armed Forces as saying that the entire command of the MILF had been placed on high alert in anticipation of a surge of fighting in Basilan.
The spokesman, who Luwa*ran did not identify, accused the Armed Forces of “ungentlemanly” conduct by taking the Basilan clash outside the ambit of the ceasefire.
He said the military deliberately described the firefight as an ambush so it could gain public sympathy and at the same time elicit hatred for the MILF.
The battle left 14 Marines dead, and 10 of them were beheaded.
“Is there an ambush that lasts for more than eight hours?” the spokesman said.
He said the beheading was a separate issue that must be investigated.
The MILF has admitted that its forces had fought with the Marines, but only because the government troops had intruded into Tipo-Tipo town, considered to be an MILF stronghold.
The Marines were checking reports that kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi was seen in Tipo-Tipo.
Bossi was released by is captors Thursday night in Karumatan, Lanao del Norte, almost six weeks after he was snatched in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay.
The Luwaran also said the MILF and government coordinating committees on cessation of hostilities had finished the second draft of the general guidelines for a fact-finding mission in Basilan and it is expected to be signed by Saturday.
Once it gets the green light from Kuala Lumpur, the International Monitoring Team will eventually lead the inquiry into the Basilan clash and the beheading of Marines, Luwaran said.
Remarks:
Kawawa ang mga tao na nadadamay sa encounter. Bottom line is si Juan pa rin ang lalabas na kawawa. May katapusan pa ba kaya ang digmaan na yan?
July 22, 2007
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has put its forces on high alert in response to the military’s warning of an all-out war if the MILF does not surrender by Monday its fighters who clashed with Marines in Basilan last week.
The Luwaran, the MILF web*site, quoted a spokesman for the General Staff of the Bang*samoro Islamic Armed Forces as saying that the entire command of the MILF had been placed on high alert in anticipation of a surge of fighting in Basilan.
The spokesman, who Luwa*ran did not identify, accused the Armed Forces of “ungentlemanly” conduct by taking the Basilan clash outside the ambit of the ceasefire.
He said the military deliberately described the firefight as an ambush so it could gain public sympathy and at the same time elicit hatred for the MILF.
The battle left 14 Marines dead, and 10 of them were beheaded.
“Is there an ambush that lasts for more than eight hours?” the spokesman said.
He said the beheading was a separate issue that must be investigated.
The MILF has admitted that its forces had fought with the Marines, but only because the government troops had intruded into Tipo-Tipo town, considered to be an MILF stronghold.
The Marines were checking reports that kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi was seen in Tipo-Tipo.
Bossi was released by is captors Thursday night in Karumatan, Lanao del Norte, almost six weeks after he was snatched in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay.
The Luwaran also said the MILF and government coordinating committees on cessation of hostilities had finished the second draft of the general guidelines for a fact-finding mission in Basilan and it is expected to be signed by Saturday.
Once it gets the green light from Kuala Lumpur, the International Monitoring Team will eventually lead the inquiry into the Basilan clash and the beheading of Marines, Luwaran said.
Remarks:
Kawawa ang mga tao na nadadamay sa encounter. Bottom line is si Juan pa rin ang lalabas na kawawa. May katapusan pa ba kaya ang digmaan na yan?