World | Philippines
Troops capture 15 rebel strongholds
Thousands of troops backed by air and artillery fire have captured 15 Islamist guerrilla strongholds in the southern Philippines after five days of intense fighting, while more than 272,000 villagers have fled their homes, officials said on Monday.
- AP
- Published: 20:40 August 25, 2008
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Manila urged to end military offensive in south
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100 rebels killed in South Philippines
100 rebels among 148 killed in week of fighting
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Dozens killed in fighting in Philippines
Dozens killed in week of fighting in southern Philippines
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Manila intensifies assault on rebels despite plea to relent
Manila intensifies assault on rebels despite plea to relent
Manila: Thousands of troops backed by air and artillery fire have captured 15 Islamist guerrilla strongholds in the southern Philippines after five days of intense fighting, while more than 272,000 villagers have fled their homes, officials said on Monday.
The massive air and ground assault will not end until Philippine government forces have captured or killed three commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and their men who were responsible for killing civilians and pillaging communities in three southern provinces, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said.
The government has rejected a call by rebel chieftain Al Haj Murad for an immediate halt to the government assaults, which he warned could cause Malaysian-brokered peace talks to collapse and escalate violence in the south, homeland of minority-Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation. Philippine officials have asked the 11,000-strong rebel front to surrender commanders Ameril Umbra Kato, Abdullah Macapaar and Aleem Sulaiman Pangalian, who have been accused of leading the attacks against civilians, including the burning and looting of homes and farms a week ago that left 37 people shot or hacked to death.
Obstacles
President Gloria Arroyo said her troops were not at war with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and that they were only targeting three hard-line commanders and their men, who could create trouble even if a peace pact is signed. She said her government would pursue peace talks with the rebel group.
"The campaign against them is intended to remove the obstacles to the peace process," Arroyo said yesterday. Murad said on Saturday his group would never surrender the commanders, who have denied the allegations. He conceded that they could be investigated by Malaysian-led ceasefire monitors.
The massive military assault was aimed at preventing a repeat of the rampage against civilians, Teodoro said.
"We have to enforce the law at this point in time in the face of grievous atrocities that have been committed against our people, no matter what it takes," Teodoro told a news conference.
"This goes to the core of what a state, what a republic, what a government should be, and it is unbargainable," he said.
Military Chief of Staff Alexander Yano said troops have overrun at least 15 Islamist rebel communities that served as guerrilla combat support areas in at least three provinces in mountainous, marshy turf where troops have focused their firepower.
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