Peace Agreement Collapses

Mindanao violence to escalate anew

By: Paul M. Gutierrez November 02, 2009 05:33 PM Monday Journal Online

ARMED conflict in the war-weary South is expected to escalate anew with the declaration of a top commander of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that the peace agreement it signed with the government in 1996 “had already collapsed.” A press statement posted yesterday at www.luwaran.com., the website of another Moro separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said the collapse of the peace agreement was prompted by the alleged military offensive of more than 2,000 Philippine Marines at the main camp of the MNLF in Bgy. Baubo, Kalinggalan, Luuk, Sulu, at dawn yesterday. The Marines’ offensive, said the report, is backed by at least 3,000 civilian militias (Cafgu) and occurred as the country’s Catholic majority is celebrating “All Souls’ Day” in remembrance of their departed. Lt. Colonel Ed Arevalo, spokesman for the Philippine Navy, which has the Marines under its command, however, denied the charge. “There was no military operation yesterday,” Arevalo told People’s Tonight, quoting his talk with Marines chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad “Ben” Dolorfino. “What transpired is a “law enforcement action a day earlier,” he said. The declaration of the nullification of the peace agreement signed in Tripoli, Libya, between representatives from the MNLF and the Philippine government was made by Ustaj Haber Malik, “a top brass military officer” of the MNLF, identified with group founder Nur Misuari. source: journalonline.com