Moros call for open probe into Jemaah presence in Kararao

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has invited government officials, military leaders, the media, foreigners, including Americans, to investigate a mountain camp in the southern Philippines, for reported presence of the Jemaah Islamiyah there, a rebel spokesman told Gulf News.

"The Americans, including other foreigners and international investigative bodies are welcomed to investigate Mount Kararao in central Mindanao. We want to show that the MILF, although it has a small contingent on the mountain top, does not shelter members of the Jemaah Islamiyah there," Eid Kabalu, the MILF spokesman, told Gulf News.

"We have opened Mount Kararao to the government, through Malaysia, because the issue about the JI presence in our camp, is being resurrected by the military and the intelligence community," Kabalu explained. The investigation must push through because we don't want to be blamed for the alleged presence of terrorists in the south," said Kabalu.

The government and the MILF are now discussing the holding of the investigative trek to Mount Kararao, he said, adding that the high-level investigation will be done "soonest". He did not give details.

In December 2003, the MILF accompanied government officials, media practitioners, members of non government organisations (NGO) and members of the ceasefire committees of the government and the MILF to Mount Kararao which straddles Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao provinces in central Mindanao, 885 kms south of Manila.

"After a two day hike, they did not see foreign terrorists up in Mount Kararao," said Kabalu, adding, "We want to bring people up Mount Kararao again." The MILF used to have 46-controlled camps in central Mindanao. After the government takeover of Camp Abubakar in Maguindanao in 2000, the MILF has activated only several dozens of camps.

"We have shifted to a strategy of using highly mobile contingents which are not longer camp-based," said Kabalu, adding the MILF contingents have been "moving by teams, from one place to another."

Intelligence reports said that there are still 40 JI members in the south, but they are out of the MILF camps, following MILF's implementation of its initial agreement signed earlier with the government to flush out terrorists in central Mindanao.

Sources said the presence of other investigative bodies in the south will help the MILF further flush out suspected JI terrorists from central Mindanao. "The more the number of people involved in the investigation will serve as a deterrent to the growth of terrorists in the south," said Kabalu.

Meanwhile, Kabalu clarified that the 9-man advance team which recently arrived from Malaysia, will not go to Mount Kararao immediately.