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| Southeast Asia |
| Basilan army commander wants dialogue with Abu Sayyaf |
| 2014-08-09 |
| The newly installed army commander in Basilan said a dialogue with the Abu Sayyaf was among peace measures he is considering. The comment shocked an adviser to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao but was welcomed by the governor of the island province. Colonel Rolando Bautista, who took command of the 104th Infantry Brigade on Thursday, said his priority was to "promote dialogue with those who want to discuss peace with the government" even if they belonged to the Abu Sayyaf. He said, "I am open to waging peace with the Abu Sayyaf Group" adding that he knew that the Abu Sayyaf also wanted peace. Alvin Dans, a senior consultant to Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said Bautista’s proposal came as a shock, since the Abu Sayyaf is a terrorist group. But Basilan Governor Jum Jainuddin Akbar said that while the Abu Sayyaf was notorious, she understood Bautista. She said a dialogue might be a much better approach to the search for peace and progress in her province. Akbar said, "There's nothing wrong with it. Whatever it is that can help us achieve peace is most welcome. If we can achieve peace through non-violent means, then it would be better." Bautista said a dialogue with the Abu Sayyaf might be unpopular but that the Bible teaches man to reach out. He said, "God said you reach out not only to your friends but to your enemies as well." Bautista said he had no deadlines in his quest for a dialogue with the Abu Sayyaf, adding, "The search for peace has no timetable." But he clarified that it did not mean the military would not pursue those he called "spoilers". He said, "For those who resist as we offer our left hand, we also have our right hand to deal with spoilers." |
| Posted by:ryuge |