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| Southeast Asia |
| Islamist militants vow to crush Philippine offensive in Mindanao |
| 2014-02-01 |
| Islamist militants in the southern Philippines have vowed to crush a massive government offensive aimed at breaking the resistance of a breakaway faction of the country's largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) currently negotiating with Manila. Abu Misry Mama, "Abu Misery Mama"? a spokesman for the group called Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), said the government offensive only brought misery for thousands of civilians who fled the military assault in the provinces of North Cotabato and Maguindanao. He said, "The only losers here are the civilians who are affected by the government offensive in North Cotabato and Maguindanao." The 6th Infantry Division, which is on the forefront of the military offensive, said as many as 40 militants were killed since the assault began on January 27, a day after Philippine peace negotiators and the MILF signed the last of the four annexes that would pave the way for an expanded Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao. Col. Dickson Hermoso, citing intelligence reports, insisted that at least 40 militants had been killed and that many more were injured in the government offensive, an allegation strongly denied by Mama. "Hermoso is a propagandist and liar, and I tell you that all he said was a lie. We have no casualties, although seven BIFF are slightly wounded in the fighting," Mama said, adding they destroyed at least three armored personnel carriers and a battle tank in the clashes. Hermoso also said that the BIFF harbors foreign terrorists and had been attacking military and civilian targets in Mindanao, but Mama just laughed off the military report. He said, "I also heard the news and Hermoso is saying that we have foreign terrorists in our ranks, but the BIFF does not need any foreign fighters, we can fight on our own and defend ourselves and the Muslims in Mindanao. This is all propaganda of the military." Hermoso said the BIFF has targeted civilians and were behind the series of bombings, killings and extortion. He said BIFF leaders are facing many criminal charges and so were their members. Miriam Ferrer, head of the Philippine peace panel, said over the last 9 months, BIFF militants repeatedly harassed troops and terrorized local communities. They planted roadside bombs, shot at soldiers, took school teachers as hostages, and in one instance, even beheaded a civilian captive. She said, "The ongoing military operations are geared at degrading the BIFF's capability to continue to cause harm to the government forces, civilians and the peace process." Ferrer said the government and the MILF have taken necessary steps to ensure the operations will not spill over to involve MILF militants or cause unnecessary or prolonged hardship to civilians. She said the MILF is assisting in the operations by helping the government contain the movements of the BIFF. |
| Posted by:ryuge |