MILF guerrillas asked to promote community understanding instead of violence

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Muslim officials have renewed an appeal to field leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to help promote community understanding while their negotiators try to build peace with the government.

The appeals were issued as the Muslim world observed the Israh wal Miraj, or the Journey and Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad, and MILF rebels were being accused of harassing villages in North Cotabato.

The MILF has denied ordering its men to attack villages in North Cotabato and said the violence started when militiamen encroached on their areas.

Governor Zaldy Uy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Mulsim Mindanao the people were hopeful that peace was within reach especially with the recent breakthroughs in the peace process.

Deputy Speaker Simeon Datumanong said other Muslim leaders were as optimistic and that the current and future achievements in the peace process should be preserved by both the government and the MILF.

Apparently referring to the incidents of violence in North Cotabato, Ampatuan said peace should prevail between Muslims and their Christian neighbors, down to the remotest villages.

He said the incidents of violence were hurting efforts in pursuit of lasting peace.

Ustadz Mohammad Farid Adas, ARMM assistant Education secretary, quoted a Koranic verse which says: "the parable of the Muslim leadership is that of a palm date tree which nourishes instead of outgrowing other plants underneath it."

Adas said this meant that a "Muslim leadership is supposed to be friendly and helpful of its constituency, regardless of race, color or religion."

He said Christians were not to be considered enemies but treated as friends and community partners in a Muslim leadership.

Adas said MILF ground commanders should be "toeing the line of peace negotiators."

As this developed, the North Cotabato provincial peace and order council urged the government to send permanent peacekeepers to the troubled villages of Aleosan and Midsayap, where recent fighting between government forces and Moro rebels have displaced villagers.

"All that the people in these barangays want is to be able to work on their farms safely and be spared from attacks by these MILF elements," North Cotabato Gov. Jesus Sacdalan, also provincial peace and order chair, said.

"While they prefer that military detachments be set up in the area, the existing ceasefire agreement between the government and the MILF should be considered," Sacdalan said.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon has already approved the request, Sacdalan said.

Sacdalan said Esperon had told him that the Joint Monitoring and Assistance Team (JMAT), composed of government and MILF representatives, will be deployed to the towns of Aleosan and Midsayap.

"I phoned him (Esperon) and he approved our request for permanent peacekeepers. We want the leader of the team to gain the MILF's respect. They should also have back-up troops from the military and police," Sacdalan said.

(Reports from Nash B. Maulana, Edwin O. Fernandez, Charlie C. Señase, Jeoffrey Maitem, INQ.net)