The factionalizing of insurgent groups is jeopardising a ceasefire that ended decades of civil war in the southern Philippines, reports Luke Hunt.
A showdown is looming among rebels in the southern Philippines as insurgents factionalize and splinter amid infighting over government sponsored peace talks, threatening the fragile ceasefire and forcing an unlikely alliance between the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The MILF fired the latest salvo, which was designed to shut down rogue Commander Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato, who has arrest warrants issued against him for murder and arson but who has been protected by the ceasefire agreement struck between Manila and the MILF leadership.
Kato has opposed peace talks aimed at ending the long-running conflict, and established the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM). However, the MILF responded, determining that Kato ‘is no longer with us’ – effectively removing his immunity against prosecution.
Fears of an escalation in violence are genuine.
Lt. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Eastern Mindanao Command, has also noted the ceasefire allows the military and the MILF to conduct joint actions against criminals and terrorists under the Ad-Hoc Joint Action Group. He says a manhunt will be launched once Kato, former head of the MILF 105th Base Command, officially renounces the MILF.
This was expected, given his defiance of the MILF Central Committee, the formation of the BIFM earlier this year, its attacks on troops and former comrades, and the passing of a September 26 deadline imposed by the MILF that allowed him time to cool down and return to the fold.
Authorities are also contending with militants who have regrouped under another banner called Awliyah, led by a commander identified as Hatib Zacaria. Zacaria led an attack on government troops guarding a school construction site that is being funded by the United States.
Under his command, about 50 gunmen attacked two marine detachments in the hills around Talipao in the southern Philippines in late September, but were repulsed after two hours of fierce fighting. Thirteen gunmen, two marines and at least one villager were killed. Six other military personnel were wounded before the gunmen withdrew into the forest.
Rumours are already being spread about the Awliyah, whose followers claim Zacaria and his henchmen have supernatural powers. Awliyah simply means ‘leader.’ The authorities, for their part, claim the Awliyah is largely made up of hard-line elements from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), as opposed to the MILF, and is associated with the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, which has been leaderless for more than a year but continues to battle troops between routine acts of banditry, kidnappings and extortion.
Hardly comforting was last weekend’s crash of a Philippine Air Force UH-1H helicopter, which killed three crew members while transporting supplies to Sulu, where troops were battling Abu Sayyaf militants.
Awliyah associates include rogue members of the MNLF under Jawalibal Ujod and Khabier Malik, another renegade MNLF leader. The attack was launched about 2.5 kilometres from Malik’s base; he is facing criminal charges after his group captured a government peace mission in February 2007.
Their rise also comes as Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the terrorist outfit that enjoyed a close association with al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, was effectively obliterated by forces as far flung as Indonesia and Pakistan after a decade-long counter terrorism operation was launched following the September 11 strikes on New York and Washington. Still, JI’s demise has created a vacuum in the southern Philippines, which the BIFM and Awliyah seem intent on filling.
More broadly, dissent within the rebel Mindanao ranks isn’t without precedent. The MILF was formed in 1977 as a hard-line splinter of the MNLF, which it split from in 1981 after peace initiatives failed to win over the hardliners. Ironically, 30 years ago, it was the MILF that was seen as the extreme element. Today, though, it’s considered the moderate negotiator and potential ally for the military in hunting down recalcitrant rebels.
‘The military held its punches against Kato’s group because of the ceasefire mechanism,’ Brig. Gen. Ariel Benardo, head of the government’s ceasefire panel says. He added the priority was not to jeopardize the truce and that any action would be coordinated with the MILF.
Kato initially gained international prominence in 2008, when a court in Manila overruled a peace deal struck between the MILF and the government of then-President Gloria Arroyo that gave the rebels an ancestral domain in central Mindanao. That legal decision resulted in widespread attacks across the south, leaving 300 people dead and 600,000 people homeless. Four decades of civil war have killed 120,000 people, displaced another two million and ensured the resource rich Muslim south remains the poorest of the poor in the Philippines.
The MNLF signed a peace accord with the government in 1996 after it dropped its secessionist bid. It settled for limited Muslim autonomy in the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines, but many Moro rebels didn’t lay down their arms. They claim the Philippine government reneged on its promises.
The government insists it’s attempting to address those issues. At the same time, the latest talks with the MILF have stalled since August, with the MILF again demanding that the creation of a sub-state be placed firmly on the political agenda.
But it is the latest ructions within the MILF and MNLF, not disputes at the negotiating table, that have signalled a significant shift in the politics of Mindanao, while providing Manila with its greatest obstacle since Benigno Aquino was swept into office more than a year ago amid promises of peace in the country’s south.
Photo Credit: Mark Navales
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Rjon
War is inevitable. It is the only road to peace for us Filipino people. And to achieve a real sovereignty.
Frank
If the Philippines want to fight against China, China should start to ship surplus weapons to the Philippines.
There are plenty of people there want to fight the Philippines government. Give them weapons !!!
freedom
Sometimes i imagine philippine would be better if it is divided.. luzon under democratic govt, visayaz on communist rule and mindanao as a muslim state, this is for the common good of all.. srb/s
iamDirtDiver
Well, think you better read Cyrus’ comment.
It is unconstitutional.
Your comment speaks of a divided PH…well, you might wanna consider changing your name into something like related to your comment, or you may also let others change it for you. am sure they know what is the appropriate name for you.
Cyrus
You should know more of the Philippines the Communist is but a minority here. Majority of the Filipinos doesn’t want Communist Rule. I will die first fighting for my country before seeing it divided or ruled by the Communist Party.
The Moro’s dream of independence is misplaced as they are prone to Family feuds. I would suggest they keep the current arrangement of Autonomy without any option to succeed from the GRP. That would be acceptable for the Government. Though, any talk of Sovereignty then there would be no compromise this has been the rule of thumb for the GRP. There is also no reason for the Government to give the concession for it is on a stronger position with its Military Strength and advantage compared to the MILF.
Soren Skye
Dumb dumb!!
iamDirtDiver
True enough that peace is elusive in Mindanao so long as PH Gov’t does not make a strong military stand to declare, once and for all, again, an all-out war against these Muslim Rebels until no one is left able to carry a firearm.
The Gov’t will absolutely receive tons of negative feedbacks from different sectors opposing to military offensive, perhaps a condemnation from a public cry, however, such action is for the interest of the general public longing to finally embrace peace that have been denied from them for years…Only then, we can understand why Mindanao is called a ‘Promise Land’.
Cyrus
I want the GRP to succeed also but what you are proposing is a bit extreme.
Remember “War is an extension of Policy” -Clausewitz
Thus war must only be resorted when everything Politically viable has been exhausted.
yang tsup
Manila are being fooled always by this rebels, umbra kato was really in coordination to milf to this attacks pretending to be a rogue commander.. as long as there is muslim rebels in mindanao wether mnlf, milf, renegade faction, abu sayyaf and communist, peace remain elusive.. Arm forces must decide to put this battle to all out war until no single rebel was able to fight again.. peace talk are hypocrisy! The state and innocent people suffer from your greed of power!
iamDirtDiver
I agree completely. Peace remains elusive so long as Muslim Rebels continue to lure in Mindanao seeking self governance. The PH Gov’t should, once and for all, again, declare an all-out war against them and until not a single rebel left able to carry a firearm. This may be brutal and inhumane, but sometimes, doing little evil is necessary to achieve greater good, not just overnight, but for a long term peace.
By doing so, PH Gov’t will absolutely receive tons of negative feed backs, perhaps condemnation from the public, or from CHR for sure, but the hope for ‘Peace’ in Mindanao will now be embraced by peace loving citizen once military objective is achieved.
Karlo
I agree. Peace can be given to everyone (including our Muslim brethren) if we cooperate and promote a better Philippines through the adherence of the law of the land and of course the respect for every religion. It can be done. A sub-state is not and never will be the answer.
danieltanghk101
Despite the best effort of the Philippines and Japanese media, it cannot be hidden from view that the Philippines is a basket case of a failed state. The only options available for them now are further mischief and duplicitous dealings in the South China Sea, that hopefully can endear its masters to throw it a few more bone.
Of course, given the master is already in the dumps itself the Philippines can continue to despair and beg its armies of maids to abuse Hong Kong’s basic law so as to stay for another 6 months and to send a few more HK$ home to keep the Aquino Wantok afloat for another few months.
Cyrus
Failed State? We are not a failed state and never will be. I cannot say the same though to Hong Kong bowing down to its CPP Masters.
You should look at yourselves being in servitude from UK to the CPP.
Grant
Just about everyone likes to throw around the phrase ‘failed state’, usually without any understanding of what it means.
Cyrus
As long as the Moro’s insist on a sub-state then Mindanao will never be at Peace, no self respecting President would ever trade off Sovereignty.
RB
I agree with you Cyrus. Being a Filipino as well, I think it is necessary for the government to negotiate in a position of strength. President Estrada almost achieved that when he ordered an all out war and the military was able to capture several moro strongholds.
Nazrul Islam
MILF leaders must understand now that self-rule can be achieved only at the expense of blood.
Cyrus
Moro should also understand that it can never win a war against the GRP. If it is really upholding the rights and welfare of its people then it will know that peace is the answer.
John Chan
Indeed, no self respecting President would ever trade off sovereignty, but there were only elected corrupted authoritarian chieftains in Philippines, therefore as long as a deal can line their pockets, trading off sovereignty is just adding another deposit into their overseas accounts.
Moro’s inspiration for freedom and independence must be respected. Brutal Philippines troop suppression must be denounced. International Human Rights commission must investigate Philippines’ violation of human rights and bring those crimes to UN for debate publicly, and ICJ might need to issue arrest warrants for those Filipinos involved in the human right violations.
Cyrus
Yes lets do that John but China first then the Philippines? I think Tianmen and Tibet will have a field day with the human rights abuse.
Authoritarian Presidents? Sounds very much like China not the Philippines. You might have mistaken your country for ours. Moros inspiration for Independence? Sounds very much like the Uighurs they are Moros(muslims) right?
John Chan
@Cyrus:
What’s the problem with Philippines? They always wants to hide behind somebody like a little kid hiding behind Mom’s skirt. In the SCS it wants to hide behind USA, and in Moro case, it wants to hide behind China.
Maybe some type 81 rifles to Moro would kick the Philippines to face the problems by itself.
Cyrus
Again your response has no sense and would you just stay silent if you really don’t have a rebuttal of my arguments. :)
nirvana
John Chan is trying to show to any subversive movements in ASEAN countries that China will back them, whether they are Islamic extremists, or ultra-Maoist like the Khmer Rouge. “It doesn’t matter whether a cat is black or white,….” said a famous Chinese stateman.
Poor Bin Laden, he should have taken refuge in a region under China’s protection and not Pakistan’s.
ron
Being one of the oldest civilization, China had a thousand year history of being a weak, rusty, self destructing, warring state before you found your place in the sun. China had the ups and downs in its history. It is only in this generation that it finally found its shining glimmer of life.
Philippines have only just more than a hundred years of history, and even by that, I think it is in the edge of a precipice.
So don’t be boastful of your country Mr John Chan for your country had traverse much darker caves before it found its light.
Cyrus
I would agree to this one, let the CHR just go to booth our country and arrest anyone who violated human rights.
Let them have a free hand in filing Cases in ICJ and all arrested Chinese and Filipino who are arrested will be flown to Netherlands.
How bout that John Chan? Would you agree? Philippines would be more happy to agree to this proposition.