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Philippines seriously concerned over rebel split
[Straits Times] THE chief Philippine government negotiator on Sunday said he was 'seriously concerned' after a feared rebel commander broke from the main Islamic separatist group ahead of peace talks.Ameril Umbrakato's split from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Milf) could compromise the talks between the government and the rebels, warned Marivic Leonen. 'The government views the reported resignation of a known commander of the Milf with serious concern and looks forward to a clarification from the Milf (peace) panel,' Mr Leonen said in a statement. Mr Leonen, who is due to meet his Milf counterparts from Wednesday to reopen the stalled talks, said that the government wanted a settlement with the 12,000-strong Milf 'at the soonest possible time'. But on Saturday, a top official of the Milf confirmed that the group had a potentially serious rebellion in its ranks after Umbrakato quit the rebel organisation seven months ago, taking at least a thousand fighters with him. Umbrakato was one of the Milf commanders who broke the group's ceasefire with the government in 2008 to launch deadly attacks on Christian communities in the south, leaving nearly 400 people dead and 70,000 displaced. Posted by: Fred 2011-02-07 |
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