Q & A with Mohagher Iqbal, MILF panel chief negotiator
Part One
By CHERYLL D. FIEL | Davao Today
Earlier reports have put the blame on Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders Ameril Ombra Kato in North Cotabato and Abdullah Macapaar, also known as Kumander Bravo, in Lanao del Norte for launching the attacks in August that reportedly killed civilians and forced the government to change tack in the peace talks.
The attacks came after the failed signing of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD), which would have given the MILF authority over the areas identified under the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE).
Even in the holy month of Ramadhan, the AFP continues its military operations in Moro communities in pursuit of the two renegade commanders.
But what really triggered the attacks? Were Ombra Kato and Bravo solely to blame?
In this interview, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal told Davao Today the unreported MILF side of the story.
Q: Some MILF commanders were reported to be on a rampage after the failed signing of the MOA-AD. What really happened?
When the Philippines failed to sign the MOA, there were commanders who, at the beginning, did not really want the peace process because, according to them, the Philippines cannot be trusted, anyway. The government will not implement what it has committed. So when it was not signed, our two commanders concluded that the government of the Philippines did not really want the peaceful process. So, they decided by themselves without the sanction of the high leaders of the MILF. That’s when the problem came.
But we have to distinguish between North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte.
In North Cotabato, it was the government of the Philippines who clearly started it. On July 1, they attacked our forces in Aleosan, some 2.5 kilometers away from the highway. That was how the war started in North Cotabato. Then, there were burning of houses. There were elements who joined the MILF who also burned some houses.
As for the Cafgus (Civilian Armed Forces Geographic Unit), the CVOs (Civilian Volunteers Organization) and the military, they also burned houses. If you come to think of it, there were more houses burned among the Moros, than those among the settlers.
What we are trying to say is that, since they filed charges against Kato, why not also file charges against the Cafgus and CVOs, who were also guilty of burning houses?
In fact, they burned a lot more houses than the MILF. We are saying that if the government still treat the Moros as constituents of the Republic of the Philippines, they should also file charges against Cafgus and CVOs.
In the case of Lanao del Norte, we have to admit that it was initiated by Kumander Bravo. But as to the reported incidence of deaths of civilians, let me clarify that there were three kinds: First, there were Cafgus and CVOs. How do you classify them? They were armed combatants, therefore, enemies in times of war.
Second, there were those caught in the crossfire, especially the kid from Pagadian (a city in the province of Zamboanga del Sur). It was a crossfire, so, we do not really know who hit them.
Third, there were other civilians who were not very careful. We really feel sorry for that and we condemn the killing of unarmed civilians.
Peace Process, Religion
