Revolt rocks region in Philippines

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, NOV. 19. A fresh revolt in the troubled region of Mindanao in the Philippines poses a challenge to the Philippine President, Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now on a visit to the United States.

Armed men belonging to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which had made peace with the Government, attacked the town of Jolo and the Philippine military brigade headquarters in the area. The MNLF is headed by Mr. Nur Misuari, currently Governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), who has had a falling out with the Government and has called for a boycott of fresh elections to the Governor's post on November 26.

While some supporters of Mr. Misuari claimed that they had seized control of the airport and seaport on Jolo island, Philippine military authorities dismissed the claim. According to available information, MNLF men, many of whom had been integrated into the Philippine military after a 1996 peace agreement, attacked the brigade headquarters using mortars. In a related development, some 100 separatist gunmen are reported to have taken position on a hilltop overlooking the city of Zamboanga triggering a strengthening of security.

``Our forces are prepared for any eventuality....this is all the handiwork of Misuari for his personal vested interests,'' Col. Danilo Servando of the Philippine army was quoted as saying. Lieutenant-General Roy Cimatu, who heads the southern military command, claimed that Mr. Misuari's group had formed an alliance with the Abu Sayyaf group, a brutal outfit involved in the killing of both foreigners and Filipinos. Mr. Misuari, who was seen as the chief ally of the Government in the southern region of Mindanao, appears miffed at efforts to sideline him and the Government's decision to hold talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). After Ms. Arroyo took over as President, a new strategy of engaging the MILF began. Earlier, the Joseph Estrada Government had waged a relentless military assault on both the MILF and the Abu Sayyaf. While Ms. Arroyo has continued with the crackdown on the Abu Sayyaf, her Government entered into talks with the MILF in Malaysia. A ceasefire has been agreed to between the military and the MILF and substantive negotiations are said to be under way.

Mr. Misuari clearly is far from pleased with the state of affairs as reflected in his group's decision to launch an assault on the Philippine military.

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Section  : International
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