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| Southeast Asia |
| MILF blacks out Mindanao |
| 2003-02-27 |
| A power blackout plunged Mindanao into darkness on Wednesday after suspected Muslim rebels blew up a major pylon in Lanao del Norte, military authorities reported yesterday. The outage occurred while 60,000 troops were on high alert on Mindanao to ward off what the military said were possible attacks by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas. The pylon in Tuminado was the 12th electrical transmitter operated by state-run National Power Corp. to have been disabled in the past two weeks in the wake of clashes between soldiers and the MILF. Army spokesmen said the bombings were acts of rebel reprisal for the capture by government forces of an MILF stronghold in Pikit town after fierce clashes two weeks ago. The Armyâs Fourth Infantry Division spokesman, Col. Johnny Macanas, said 15 MILF rebels carried out the attack. Macanas said a certain Macapaar alias Commander Bravo led the attack. In Buluan, Maguindanao, armed men believed to have links with MILF also bombed transmission lines No. 34 and 40 Wednesday night. The attack occurred two days after MILF chairman Hashim Salamat, in a radio address, urged Muslims to resist Manilaâs âall-out warâ policy. MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu denied the rebels blew up the pylons or that the attacks were in response to Salamatâs call to his people. Peace negotiations between the government and the MILF have been stalled because of the military offensive in Buliok. Kabalu said in a telephone interview the MILF would not talk peace with the government âas long as military presence remainsâ in MILF strongholds. âWhy should we withdraw (from Buliok)? To allow them to regroup and set up camps once more?ââ Armed Forces Public Information Chief Lt. Col. Micheal Manquiquis said. An officer who refused to be identified said the documents recovered in Buliok clearly show that the MILF does not want peace. The documents, the officer said, contain MILF plans âto cause a psychological damage to a Christian-dominated Philippines.â |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |