Don't lump us with Abu Sayyaf, MILF reminds AFP

MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Sunday warned the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against lumping it together with the Abu Sayyaf following last Thursday's Zamboanga bombing. In a statement posted on the MILF website, MILF deputy spokesman Khaled Musa questioned the dare issued by the Western Mindanao Command for the MILF to dissociate from the notorious bandit gang. "There is no need for the AFP to remind the MILF for such issue (because) the MILF and ASG have never been one in pursuing their objectives... The MILF is a legitimate Islamic revolutionary organization with a clear political agenda, which is to act as vanguard in the Bangsamoro people's just struggle for freedom and right to self-determination," he said. He added the MILF follows the rules of engagement in Islam and observes the various Geneva Conventions, particularly Protocol 1 and II. Musa made the "reminder" after AFP WesMinCom head Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga dared the MILF to "back up their words with action" and distance themselves from the terrorist Abu Sayyaf. Also, Musa said the MILF follows the basic rules of engagement in Islam, which has been in place since 1,400 years ago and made the central part of the Military Code of Conduct of the MILF. He added these are also the rules adopted by the General Staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) and subsequently approved by the MILF Central Committee in 2005. These include: * Never kill, injure or terrorize non-combatants especially children, women and old folks; * Never kill, injure or harm men of religion such as monks, priests, or pastors; * Never destroy places of worships such as churches, convents, etc.; * Never destroy orchards, farmlands, plantations; * Never engage in banditry such as holdupping, kidnapping, cattle-rustling, etc. These are ways of the bandits and not by anyone with a sacred cause to pursue; * Never mutilate a fallen enemy; and * Treat a captured enemy humanely and give him medical attention if he is wounded or sick. Musa pointed out that the differences between the ASG and MILF lie in their methods to achieve their objective, political or military. He said the Abu Sayayf resorts to kidnapping, bombing of even civilian targets and anti-Christian activities, while the MILF does not use or condone such activities. However, he said the original ASG is a far cry from what is ASG today, which deviates in many ways with the original path followed by Abdulrazak Janjalani, who was well-learned man in Islam, although his mother was a former Christian, an Ilongga from Iloilo in the Visayas. Musa added the ASG has been deeply penetrated by military assets, who contributed largely to the degeneration or falling out of the group, as a true organization seeking justice for the Bangsamoro people or the Muslims, citing Edwin Angeles as an example. Angeles, who was assassinated after Khaddafi's death, was a military asset. Musa also disclosed that most of those so-called ASG in Basilan and Sulu fighting the AFP are plain armed civilians who are out to seek revenge against the military for the various killings, summary executions, and other abuses committed against them. - GMANews.TV