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27 December 2004
At this historic gathering of the responsible peoples of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) representing specifically three member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Whenever there is apprehended by AFP elements either innocent civilian, MNLF or MILF (OIC) such as, Malaysia, Brunei and Libya and the local members of the GRP-MILF CCCH-LMT I have the privilege, as both member of the MILF – CCCH and liaison official to the IMT, to make statement; voice out my comments, worries and sentiments on the prevailing situation now in our regions particularly in Western Mindanao. Much have been said by no less than Mayor Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City that his very own Zamboanga is relatively peaceful and even takes firm in his stand to refuse hosting the IMT not because only of non-member of the ARMM but above all a place where you are safe and free to live in.
Contrary to the observation of Mayor Lobregat, you find in Zamboanga City rampant apprehension, killing, as well as cracking down of innocent civilians with no warrant of arrest by the AFP elements, burying victims tens of corpse in one grave whose cadavers were not claimed anymore by relatives because of fear of suspicion by and by apprehension by the men in uniform. As a manifestation recently there were more than fifty cadavers being buried in Barangay Mercedes on the initiative of ZC Councilor Mila Velasquez.
member with no warrant of arrest but only suspicion based merely on the report of an unrealiable government asset / agent, be automatically branded as ASG terrorist. Like in the case of the recent incident happened dated December 4, 2004 at Camino Nuevo, Zamboanga City where the detailed MILF security guards with the International Monitoring Team (IMT) staying in a raided house by the AFP elements without verification neither coordination with the MILF CCCH, apprehended; killed one of them by the name of Esmael Bahan and the three others namely, Muadz Tarang, Bullah Sabtal and Stallin Molalon were imprisoned in City Jail.At gun point these three suspects ASG were forced to have escorted the raiding forces to locate Abdulwahid Pingli who is a real MILF personnel at Barangay Taluksangay. Found in a raided house at 3:00 a.m, dawn, December 5 were three innocent civilians namely, Ismael Pingli, Gapul Pingli and Poloy Caluang and in lieu of Abdulwahid Pingli who was not around they were taken by the marauders for interrogation.
It is lamentable to say further that on December 21, 2004 at 6:30 a.m, five convoy vans of MP – Police raided a house at San Roque, Zamboanga City and apprehended four innocent persons namely, Aldrin Pawa, Ambali Jamad, Abdulbasil Mindoou and Arasa Jamad the lone MILF member.
On 14 December, 2004 another crack down took place against innocent people at Campo Islam, Zamboanga City one of whom identified Abral Engliong, an MILF political committee Secretary of Zamboanga del Norte together with three others namely, certain Ashraf, Abdulrahman and Nydal. They were apprehended on warrantless arrest.
Prior to all those reported incidents mentioned, back on December 3, 2003 at about 6:30pm in the evening at Sitio Marangan, Barangay Muti, Zamboanga City some unidentified armed men in-uniform suddenly appeared and killed a public school teacher, Mr Ibung Mabansa together with three neighbors whose names are withheld. No need for me to elaborate the matter because it had been reported already to the Joint GRP-MILF CCCH for action to be taken against the perpetrators.
Those numerous atrocities committed by the AFP elements against our innocent people without justification produce more insurgents instead of minimizing whereby hampers the progress of the nation. Most often than not, saboteurs of the AFP are the ones perpetuating the trouble in Mindanao for interest. Bombing everywhere in the country perpetrated by the men in uniform upon the instruction of some bloody poor generals but always attributed to insurgents either in the north such as NPA or in the south such as Moro rebels.
While peace talks are going on and off for sometimes for some reasons both sides of the GRP and the MILF should take advantage of the presence of International Monitoring Team who are here on mission to monitor the violations of the ceasefire agreement that shall have been committed by either side and be serious to solve the conflict once and for all.for heaven sake with no reservation. To make the peace process become more effective the Philippine Government should lift the policy of cracking down of so-called terrorists in Western Mindanao which we believe still in effect. Non-lifting of this policy no matter how important the IMT, OIC to play vital role in helping the Philippine Government to solve the Mindanao Conflict, the abusive soldiers plus the saboteurs will always carry on their dirty trick or bad plans for self interest Useless for the IMT to stay here with us as what Tan Sri Dr. Noordin Sopiee, chair and CEO of the Institute of Strategic Studies (ISIS), Malaysia, one of his country’s leading political scientists and economists says and I quote, as to his country’s hosting of the GRP-MILF peace negotiations, “his government did not want to do it on the ground that the Muslim problem in Mindanao must be solved by the government of the Philippines, but President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo requested Malaysia’s mediating role .
Dr.Sopiee does not think that reaching an accord will solve the Muslim problem in Mindanao. For sure, the talks are useful in that the demands of both parties are being brought out in the open. But the solution goes deeper – the root causes of discontent must be addressed – poverty, poor education, lack of infrastructure. Unless these are resolved, Dr. Sopiee does not see light at the end of the tunnel for Muslims in Mindanao
Dr. Sopiee points to the lack of representation of all the Moro tribes in the peace talks. Right now, the composition of the MILF panel consists of rebel leaders from Maguindanao, and none from the Tausug and Maranao tribes. An accord reached only with the MILF from Maguindanao will only result in resentment and possibly armed resistance from the MILF-Bangsamoro People’s Army / Bangsamoro Mujahideen Alliance. By: The Philippine Star / OPINION / Saturday, June 5, 2004
To achieve lasting and comprehensive peace all atrocities that have been committed by either side must be resolved properly based on justice then resume the peace talks and include all those who have been with the MILF hierarchy but not those handpicked ones based on personal choice as incompetent representatives otherwise as the saying goes, history repeat itself and this is charge to experience. I make this reservation for I pretty well know that making the peace talks exclusively to particular group/s what we are in now doesn’t solve the conflict instead become more complicated that might aggravate the situation. Hence, the peace talks end forever, , , ,! God forbid! Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh!
AMSID SANSON
MILF CCCH Member,
Concurrent Liaison Officer
To the International Monitoring Team (IMT)
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