|
MILF sez US forces fighting against Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao
THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front disapproves of the open participation of the United States in pursuing the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group.The group has alleged that seven American servicemen accompanied by Maj. Onting Alon and Col. Francisco del Prado directly engaged the Abu Sayyaf at Perez Hill in the jungles of Guindolongan, Maguindanao, on Sunday. An observer who refused to be named said the open participation of the Americans is a breach to the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement which prohibits US forces from engaging directly in ground operations. âThis is an insult to the Arroyo administration. Abu Sayyaf is a small group and does not require US involvement,â he added. The Armed Forces of the Philippines vowed to crush the Abu Sayyaf by capturing terrorist leader Khadaffy Janjalani. On Wednesday the military launched an air and mortar attack on two villages of Gawang and Panan, in Datu Piang, Maguindanao, allegedly against the Abu Sayyaf members retreating from the mountains of Guindolongan, Maguindanao, after relentless military operations since July 1. The MILF filed a complaint against the military operations through the Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities. âThe operation in Panan and Gawang was not coordinated with us and is a clear violation to the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group [Ahjag] rules of engagement,â Thong Kanakan, MILF AHJAG Team 1 leader said. The RP-MILF Ceasefire Agreement and the AHJAG interim guidelines provide for prior coordination in case of impending military operations in or near MILF areas. Reports said about 200 families evacuated stricken villages following the military operations in Dapiawan, Datu Piang, Maguindanao. Meanwhile in Agusan del Norte, poor coordination between government forces and militiamen led to a friendly-fire incident late Monday, belated military reports said Friday. Reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo said that nonhostile fire between a section of the 29th Infantry Battalion and the Lumboyan Cafgu Active Auxiliary injured 2nd Lt. Dulawan, Pfc. Dumaguing, militiaman Edwin Valdez and civilian Corsine Sabanah. The reports said that the eight-minute encounter occurred in a remote area in Sitio Mumba-hande, Barangay Kamagaong, Nasipit, around 9 p.m. The wounded received medical treatment in nearby Butuan City. Posted by: Dan Darling 2005-08-20 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=127253 |