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3,000 Filippino troops killed fighting commies, Islamists in 2005
Escalating hostilities between government troops and communist rebels pushed to nearly 3,000 the death toll in clashes in the Philippines in 2005, the military said yesterday.According to armed forces statistics, 1,455 clashes between government forces and various groups killed 2,838 people in 2005, up from just 387 the previous year. Fatalities included 723 soldiers, 1,810 communist rebels, 171 Abu Sayyaf militants and 118 members of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Sixteen loyal followers of jailed rebel leader Nur Misuari were also killed. Civilian and police casualties were not included. The military said it suffered the highest number of casualties in battles with communist rebels in the countryside, losing 458 troops, followed by 181 against the Abu Sayyaf and 68 with Misuariâs men. Only 16 soldiers were killed in clashes with the MILF, which has forged a ceasefire with the Philippine government as part of peace negotiations. Soldiers also had the most number of encounters with communist rebels at 1,255 incidents, followed by 123 clashes with Abu Sayyaf militants, 51 with the MILF and 26 with Misuariâs followers. The military and defence department have in the past identified communist rebels as the countryâs top internal security threat. Fighting with communist rebels has been on the rise since last year when peace talks between the Philippine government and Netherlands-based guerrilla leaders were suspended. Efforts to resume the negotiations have so far failed, and the rebels have vowed to step up attacks. On the other hand, the Philippine government and the MILF have both expressed confidence that they would reach a comprehensive peace agreement in 2006. Posted by: Dan Darling 2005-12-31 |
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