Filipino Muslim Rebels Don’t Object to U.S. War Games
Asian Journal, News Report, Staff, Posted: Jul 07, 2004
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the main Muslim rebel force in the Philippines, does not object to Filipino and American troops holding joint military exercises in its territories in Mindanao so long as these do not provoke clashes with its forces.
Joint Philippines and United States counterterrorism training exercises will begin this month in areas where the MILF secessionist rebels maintain camps.
Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesperson, said Tuesday the group was confident the exercises were merely aimed at honing the antiterror skills of the local soldiers and not for anything else.
"We are not alarmed by this; this is just an exercise. This is just a counterterrorism training," Kabalu said. "Besides, we are not hiding JI (Jemaah Islamiyah) terrorists."
The MILF, which has been fighting for an independent Islamic state for decades, is suspected of coddling JI operatives and having ties with the al-Qaeda international terror network. The JI is the Asian wing of al-Qaeda, which is headed by Osama bin Laden. The MILF has consistently denied any links.
"So long as they will not touch our men on the ground, we don't expect clashes [to happen]. Otherwise, our forces would have no recourse but to defend themselves," Kabalu said.
Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita's announced that the government would inform the MILF about the training schedules, the venues and the number of participating troops, among other data, to avoid any misunderstanding.
The government notice, Kabalu said, would be disseminated to the rebels on the ground so that they could steer clear of the training areas and avoid "friction and confrontatio."
The exercises include a counterterrorism and counternarcotics exercise in Subic Bay and some areas in Mindanao and the joint Project Balikatan 04-1 that will run from July to December.
The MILF signed a ceasefire agreement with the government in August 2001. The agreement, however, has not entirely stopped skirmishes from occurring between government troops and the secessionist rebels.
Peace talks between the two sides are expected to resume in August this year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, host of previous rounds of negotiations.
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