MILF: 'Indiscriminate arrests' threaten peace process

As it prepares to resume peace talks with government, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) cautioned the military against making indiscriminate arrests as it does not augur well for the peace process. Khaled Musa, deputy chairman of the MILF’s Committee on Information, said the arrests appear to be exploiting a situation where the MILF is silencing its guns in preparation for the resumption of talks. In an article posted on the MILF website, Musa cited the arrest of Hadi Abdul by the Army's 29th Infantry Battalion on Monday. The arrest occurred in Sitio Gadung at Pagatin and Madia villages in Datu Salibo town in Maguindanao province. Hadi is now under detention at the Philippine Army Detachment at Crossing Salvo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan. The MILF said Hadi is a member of the 105th Base Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces. He was arrested while the Army was conducting operations against private armed groups allegedly involved in the November 2009 Ampatuan massacre. "Hadi has served as a member of the of the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Post (JCMP), a ceasefire mechanisms on the ground under the GRP – MILF CCCH, for the areas of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Piang and the so-called SPMS (Salvo-Pagatin-Mamamsapano-Shariff Aguak) Areas for years sometime in 2006 to 2008," the MILF said. The MILF added Hadi was reportedly not carrying any firearm when he was arrested. Musa also said the arrests are mainly based on warrant of arrests issued by Philippine courts "which are not necessarily on the basis of actual participation or collaboration of the suspects or accused." He branded the inclusion of the name "John Does" as a state apparatus of repression leading to undeclared state terrorism. –VVP, GMANews.TV