Militant Muslim lies and treachery even on the far east!

Submitted by Mindanao-Civilian (Philippines), Aug 19, 2008 at 05:40

I've come across an editorial section on one of the newspaper in the Philippines called "The Philippine Star". It shows that even under cease-fire agreement, the Militant Muslim (Moro Islamic Liberation Front?) could raid entire villages and ambush government forces.

here's the editorial: (source url: http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Opinion&p=49&type=2&sec=25)

OUT OF CONTROL

The leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front does not sanction the rebels' continuing attacks on both government and civilian targets. This was emphasized yesterday by top commanders of the separatist group as the death toll from the raids conducted by their members in several areas in Mindanao rose to 30, with more than two-thirds of the fatalities civilians.

While the MILF leaders could disown the attacks, they could not dismiss the raiders merely as members of their "lost command." The raiders, the MILF admitted, were led by several of their "sub-commanders." The admission raises two questions: Can MILF leaders control their members? And if they can't, why should the government negotiate peace with a handful of men who can speak only for themselves?

This is presuming that the MILF leaders who have been negotiating with the government and facing the mass media are sincere in their desire for lasting peace, and are not the ones who are secretly directing the raids on towns in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Sarangani.

MILF members have been linked to other atrocities in the past. The Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom gang was believed to be a fund-raising arm of the MILF. The separatist group has also been accused of providing sanctuary to Abu Sayyaf members including the late chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani. Always the MILF leadership would disown its combatants, describing them as members of a lost command. The MILF has admitted harboring Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists to train recruits in bomb making, but claims this is a thing of the past.

If the MILF "lost command" has a bigger and more militant membership, the government should seek out its leader for possible peace negotiations. Those "sub-commanders" who are wreaking havoc appear to have no respect for their leadership. Or else they are in fact carrying out the orders of their leaders, which is to burn down homes and murder non-combatants. The message is, "Talk peace, or else." This is extortion, not negotiation.

Source: The Philippine Star, Editorial Section August 19, 2008

As of this moment, the MILF continues to raid villages and kill innocent muslim and christian civilians. But it's strange that the U.S. Government seems to support their "Ancestral Domain" Claim.

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