| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Fresh fighting in Jolo |
| 2005-03-10 |
| AT least two soldiers were wounded as fresh fighting broke out anew on restive Jolo Island, officials said Wednesday. Army Brig. Gen. Agustin Demaala, commander of troops in Jolo, said on Tuesday his forces battled followers of Nur Misuari and Abu Sayyaf rebels after coming under mortar fire near the town of Indanan. Two soldiers were wounded, though it wasn't clear if the rebels, who withdrew after the two-hour clash, suffered any casualties. The fighting erupted four days after the government ordered the military to pursue forces loyal to jailed former Moro National Liberation Front leader Misuari. Reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo Wednesday said the encounter took place in Barangay Lanao Dakula, where 80 Misuari loyalists and Abu Sayyaf bandits under Commander Ahadon Adak attacked the Army's 35th Infantry Battalion. Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual, the military's public information chief, said the gun battle ended with the rebels retreating after being bombarded with mortar and sniper fire. Pascual said reinforcements have been deployed to prevent the rebels from escaping. This is the first encounter between government forces and Misuari loyalists since President Arroyo rejected calls for a ceasefire. Since last month, government troops have captured 45 rebel hideouts and have dispersed the guerrillas. Followers of Misuari, who is detained in a police camp in Santa Rosa, Laguna, for rebellion, said they launched their attacks in response to alleged military abuses during anti-insurgency operations. They denied links with the Abu Sayyaf, a terrorist group the military has been trying to crush for years. Misuari has denied a role in the clashes. After last month's violence, 37,400 villagers among 51,000 of those displaced have refused to return to their homes despite a lull in the fighting, said Gov. Benjamin Loong of Sulu. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |