Govt panel waiting for report on Basilan clash
08/23/2009 | 09:22 AM
More than a week after a clash that killed over 50 people in Basilan province, government peace negotiators are still waiting for the military report on the incident.
Presidential adviser on the peace process Avelino Razon Jr. said Sunday the government panel cannot decide on the next steps to take in dealing with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) without the report.
“Wala pa… sapagka’t ang investigation nasa Armed Forces of the Philippines pa. Ganoon pa man, di ito makakaapekto sa ating peace process (We still cannot take concrete steps because the AFP is still investigating. Despite this, we remain optimistic the clash will not affect the peace process)," Razon said in an interview on dzBB radio.
Several soldiers were killed in a military operation last Aug. 12 in Basilan, where the military overran a suspected Abu Sayyaf training camp.
Also killed were several Abu Sayyaf bandits, along with MILF members who supposedly came to their aid. MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu admitted some of the front's members are relatives of the bandits.
On the other hand, Kabalu said the MILF may not be obliged to help the government go after the Abu Sayyaf members until peace talks resume and both panels reactivate an Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG).
For his part, Razon said the MILF has been helping the government go after the Abu Sayyaf on several occasions.
“Positibo ang response ng MILF leadership na sila ay tutulong. Sila mismo nagsabing gusto nila magbalik sa peace negotiation sa formal talks. Sa nakaraan nagawa ng MILF leadership yan categorically sa pagtugis sa Abu Sayyaf (The MILF’s leadership had given a positive response to help government. They want to get back to the peace talks. And they have in the past helped us go after criminal elements in Mindanao)," he said. - GMANews.TV
Presidential adviser on the peace process Avelino Razon Jr. said Sunday the government panel cannot decide on the next steps to take in dealing with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) without the report.
“Wala pa… sapagka’t ang investigation nasa Armed Forces of the Philippines pa. Ganoon pa man, di ito makakaapekto sa ating peace process (We still cannot take concrete steps because the AFP is still investigating. Despite this, we remain optimistic the clash will not affect the peace process)," Razon said in an interview on dzBB radio.
Several soldiers were killed in a military operation last Aug. 12 in Basilan, where the military overran a suspected Abu Sayyaf training camp.
Also killed were several Abu Sayyaf bandits, along with MILF members who supposedly came to their aid. MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu admitted some of the front's members are relatives of the bandits.
On the other hand, Kabalu said the MILF may not be obliged to help the government go after the Abu Sayyaf members until peace talks resume and both panels reactivate an Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG).
For his part, Razon said the MILF has been helping the government go after the Abu Sayyaf on several occasions.
“Positibo ang response ng MILF leadership na sila ay tutulong. Sila mismo nagsabing gusto nila magbalik sa peace negotiation sa formal talks. Sa nakaraan nagawa ng MILF leadership yan categorically sa pagtugis sa Abu Sayyaf (The MILF’s leadership had given a positive response to help government. They want to get back to the peace talks. And they have in the past helped us go after criminal elements in Mindanao)," he said. - GMANews.TV
