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Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Issue No. 33 September 29 - October 5, 2001 Quezon City, Philippines |
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Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Issue No. 33 September 29 - October 5, 2001 Quezon City, Philippines |
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MILF denies Abu
Sayyaf link, The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) denied having links with the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and lambasted the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for conducting military operations despite the ceasefire agreement between the MILF and the government. BY
ROWENA CARRANZA
TIPO-TIPO, BASILAN --- In an exclusive interview with Bulatlat.com, the chairman of the MILF Basilan Regional Command criticized the AFP for deploying 12 AFP battalions in Basilan and harassing suspected MILF mass bases in the guise of running after the ASG. Hamza A. Sapantun, who refused to be photographed for security reasons, said the AFP is taking advantage of the ASG presence in Basilan to conduct military operations against MILF. Sapantun claimed that during the AFP operation last August 22 which resulted in the evacuation of several communities in Sumisip town, an MILF camp called Camp Samir was overrun by AFP troops for the first time since it was established in the 1970s during the time of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). The AFP allegedly claimed that the operation was against the ASG to hide its violation of the ceasefire agreement. Sapantun further cited the Sumisip board resolution requesting the military to conduct military operations in Sumisip to prevent the MILF camp from expanding like Camp Abu Bakkar in Maguindanao. According to Sapantun, the MILF in Basilan strictly adheres to the orders of the MILF Central Committee which forbids kidnapping and harming of innocent civilians. MILF members who are found guilty of disobeying these orders, he said, may be put before a firing squad. On MILF policy regarding the ASG, Sapantun said the MILF protects its constituents and will not allow the ASG or any group to disrupt or discredit its governance. Sapantun also said the ASG members are mostly from Tausug tribe, the natural adversary of the Yakan, the native of Basilan. Sapantun said that the MILF in Basilan has a total of eight battalions of mujahideens (warriors) and listed Tipo-Tipo, Tuburan and Sumisip as its strongholds. Sapantun was a former MNLF commander who studied in Saudi Arabia in 1982 after a rift with former MNLF chairman Nur Misuari. He became chairman of the Basilan Jurisdiction in 1995. Bulatlat.com We want to know what you think of this article.
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