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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippines seriously concerned over rebel split |
| 2011-02-07 |
| [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 |
| #1 IMO read, MANILA = PHIL GOVT. fears making a formal peace agreement wid One, while being forced to wage or fight new war agz the Other. IOW, THE MUSLIM INSURGENCY DIDN'T END IN EITHER ENDURATIVE ARMISTICE OR A FINAL PEACE - IT INDIR JUST EXPANDED, e.g. as per DOKU UMAROV'S NEW EXPANDED = "OFFENSIVE" TERROR THREATS AGZ RUSSIA IFF IT REFUSES TO LEAVE = GIVE UP THE NORTH CAUCASUS??? Lest we fergit, NET > US ANALYSTS fear CBW = CHEMWAR, BIOWAR, MIXED TERR THREATS MORE THAN NUCLEAR OR RADIOACTIVE. Ya know - "JASMINE" is actually a VERY NICE/PRETTY COLOR. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-02-07 22:21 |