Group wishes success for peace between Aquino govt, MILF

An international group opposed to the use of land mines has relayed to the Aquino administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) its wishes for the success of their efforts in bringing peace to the southern Philippine region. The group Geneva Call relayed the sentiment as it disclosed the results of a mission verifying the use of land mines by government and secessionist groups in Mindanao. "We are also hopeful that the peace process between the government and MILF will succeed with the new President of the Philippines Benigno Aquino III," Geneva Call president Elisabeth Warner said at the launching of the verification mission report at Camp Darapanan of the MILF. Excerpts of Warner's address were posted on the MILF website. An MILF article cited excerpts from the group's report that while there was indeed use of anti-personnel mines in some instances, these could not be conclusively attributed to the MILF. It said the report claimed there was "likelihood" that these were planted by MILF guerrilla troops, possibly without the knowledge or sanction of the MILF leadership. Still, Warner noted this was the first-ever verification mission with the concurrence of both parties — the government and MILF. She described it as "a truly laudable engagement and process with them." Warner, Geneva Call senior programme officer Christopher Rush and Call Gender coordinator Silva Lisca led the launching program at Darapanan. MILF Central Committee secretary Muhammad Ameen, senior members of the MILF Central Committee, general staff as well as Base and Ground Commanders of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), MILF ceasefire committee, representatives of the Malaysia-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP), and scores of non-government organizations (NGOs) were also present. Another launch was held in Manila Thursday last week with government policy-makers, military top brass and civil society groups, the MILF said. AFP claims MILF uses land mines Earlier, the government accused the MILF of using anti-personnel land mines in at least seven cases from August 2008 to May 2009. The period had seen an upsurge in clashes between the government and MILF forces following the aborted signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) in August 2008. "After confirming the existence of credible allegations, the Mission was conducted from March 16 to 26, 2009 to verify if the MILF had violated its obligations under the Geneva Call Deed of Commitment for Adherence to a Total Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines and for Cooperation in Mine Action," the MILF said. Two cases were investigated in the interior village in Maguindanao town of Mamasapano on March 23, 2009. In her message, Warner said the verification mission had achieved the objective with total transparency and cooperation from both the government and MILF. She said the MILF was one of the two first Non-State Actors (NSAs) that had entered into Deed of Commitment with the Geneva Call in 2000. Also, Warner commended the government and the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) then headed by Gen. Alexander Yano, and MILF for their full cooperation which was essential in the establishment of the veracity of the Mission’s findings, conclusion and recommendations. The Deed of Commitment is a ban on victim-activated mines and associated devices, not a ban on all types of device that might be categorized as landmines. It is signed by representatives of the NSA, as well as by representatives of Geneva Call and the Government of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, acting as the custodian of the signed Deeds of Commitment. Signatory The MILF signed the Geneva Call Deed of Commitment banning anti-personnel mine in 2000 and was subsequently expanded in 2002. The two documents of commitment were signed by now chairman of the MILF Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, who was then the MILF vice chairman for military affairs and chief of staff of BIAF. Warner said the Verification Mission by the Geneva Call was handled by experts with deep knowledge and competence on the matter. Chris Rush, Head of Mission and Coordinator of the Geneva Call, Eric David, Professor of International Law at Brussels Free University and member of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC), and Philip Halford, staff member of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), composed the Mission Team. Geneva Call also thanked the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium for the invaluable support that made the Mission possible. "Rush said that there was indeed use of anti-personnel mines in some cases but due to lack of more material evidence, these could not be conclusively attributed to MILF. However, he said that there was likelihood that these were planted by MILF guerrilla troops, possibly without the knowledge or sanction of the MILF leadership," the MILF said. He also urged the necessity to disseminate further to the combatants in the field the Deed of Commitment to heightened appreciation of and cooperation for the Deed of Commitment. A member of the BIAF General Staff informed the Geneva Call of the decision and ongoing efforts of Sammy Al Mansoor, BIAF chief of staff, to incorporate in the BIAF Code of Conduct the provisions of the Deed of Commitment. For his part, Muhammad Ameen, said "the MILF strictly observes the Geneva Conventions and various international humanitarian laws, and human rights laws." "In compliance to the Deed of Commitment with Geneva Call, the MILF issued written Orders for its officers and men enjoining them to adhere to the ban on use of anti-personnel mines covered by the Commitment. The MILF likewise conducted information and educational campaign like training on International Humanitarian Law and human rights with the Geneva Call, ICRC and local human rights groups," he said. Geneva Call is a neutral and impartial humanitarian organization dedicated to engaging armed NSAs towards compliance with norms of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV