ZAMBOANGA CITY, 11 March 2004 — Fierce fighting erupted yesterday between government troops and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces in the southern province of Zamboanga del Norte, ahead of the expected arrival of Malaysian truce observers next week.
Military and separatist officials both acknowledged the involvement of their forces and blamed each other for provoking the latest violation of the fragile Manila-MILF cease-fire agreement.
The military’s Southern Command said fighting erupted when about 200 MILF fighters attacked patrolling soldiers in the jungle village of Sipakit in Sirawai town, about 780 kilometers (480 miles) south of Manila,
Only one separatist was killed and another injured and none from the military even though the fighting that lasted from around 5:40 a.m. until noon, with air force helicopters backing the army soldiers.
“The troops were conducting routine patrol when some 200 lawless elements attacked them,” said a military press statement.
The MILF denied provoking the clash. Separatist spokesman Eid Kabalu accused army troops of trying to overran the MILF’s Camp Salman Al-Farise headquarters, in violation of a standing truce.
“In the face of the aggression — we were being shelled and attacked by helicopters — we had no choice but to defend ourselves,” Kabalu said, adding that their forces gallantly fought and “drove the aggressors away...”
The scene of fighting in the mountainous western portion of Mindanao Island is one of several areas where Malaysian cease-fire monitors are supposed to visit later this month to ensure the truce is holding while peace talks are under way.
Malaysia announced in January that both sides would resume negotiations next month in Kuala Lumpur.
Kabalu said it was not the first time that government troops tried to assault the camp, which military officials said is being used as a training facility and springboard for terrorist attacks on civilian and government targets.
The government and the rebels said they would each lodge complaints with a joint cease-fire committee.
Kabalu warned the fighting could endanger the talks if it was not contained immediately.
“The military is out to sabotage the (peace) talks. They attacked the MILF camp and tried to capture it,” said Kabalu, making it a point to mention that their forces were victorious.
The MILF earlier rejected a proposed government peace deal, saying it failed to resolve the aspirations of the Muslims for a self-rule in the strife-torn, but mineral-rich region.
The rebels have been fighting for more than three decades for the establishment of a strict Islamic state in the south, but the government maintained it would not allow the country to be dismembered.
Manila has linked the MILF, the country’s largest separatist Muslim rebel group, to the Jemaah Islamiyah and the series of bombings and kidnappings in the region.
MILF officials have strongly denied the accusations and have renounced violence and terrorism and pledged to help Manila arrest criminals and terrorists in their so-called territories.
