Fewer skirmishes between government and MILF-aligned forces this year

By Gilbert P. Felongco

Correspondent

(Manila, Feb. 19, 2012) Officials have noted a marked decrease in the number of skirmishes between government soldiers and forces aligned with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Said Sheikh, chair of the MILF Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), said there were only eight recorded skirmishes between MILF fighters and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in 2011, compared to 14 in 2010.

The MILF, as a group, had been observing a ceasefire with the government since 2001, but some of its individual commanders and their men had engaged the AFP on certain occasions.

Sheikh was quoted in the MILF's Luwaran website as having attributed the fewer incidence of violence on the presence of the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT), the active and good coordination between goverment and MILF CCCHs, and more importantly, the decisiveness of the MILF and government to abide by the ceasefire agreement.

He said both the GPH and MILF are requiring their respective forces to abide by the ceasefire agreement, however, cautioned that things would change if the peace talks would not succeed or is being dragged forever.

"Radicals and hard-headed sectors on both camps can take advantage of the uneasy situation," he said.

In a related development, government chief negotiator Marvic Leonen said "The peace process with the MILF has moved forward… at least a few feet."

Leonan gave the statement following last Wednesday's conclusion of the 25th Formal Exploratory Talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between the government and the MILF.

"The day will come, I hope very, very soon that we will be able to sign a peace agreemen," Leonen said.

"We always believe that it is always possible to find solutions to a problem, review it, adjust and later on achieve the kind of peace that is permanent, that is founded on justice for all that are concerned on the ground."

In a joint statement released immediately after the talks, both parties expressed "satisfaction on the progress of their discussions, and recognizing the many challenges that have yet to be resolved in order to find a political solution to the Bangsamoro Question and the armed conflict in Mindanao."

Malaysian third party facilitator Tengku Dato Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed lauded the government and the MILF for the progress in the negotiations. "Both sides agree that there are constraints and both agree to resolve these constraints," he said.

The next round of formal talks is scheduled in March 2012.

The government had been engaged in peace negotiations with the MILF since the time of President Joseph Estrada, however, it was only during the latter part of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and now, President Benigno Aquino III that talks for a negotiated settlement to the more than two decades old conflict involving the MILF really covered much ground.