Fighting erupts between RP troops, Moro rebels

Fighting erupts between RP troops, Moro rebels

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP): Heavy fighting between Philippine government troops and Moro rebels erupted again yesterday in the southern Philippines, but the government said it expected cease-fire negotiations to begin soon.

As the fighting broke out in three remote villages in the south, an aide to President Fidel Ramos said in Manila that the cease-fire talks could begin next week.

"We're proceeding with the talks and we're looking at early next week, after All Souls' Day (Nov. 2)," said Executive Secretary Ruben Torres. "We have asked our agreed liaison persons to work on the schedule."

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), with an officially estimated 10,000 fighters, is the last major insurgent group still fighting in the Mindanao region after Manila signed a peace treaty with the Moro National Liberation Front last month.

Fighting with the MILF broke out simultaneously yesterday in three remote villages near the town of Tipo-Tipo but no casualties were immediately reported.

The government also received unconfirmed reports that a smaller Moslem faction, the Abu Sayyaf, had joined forces with the MILF, said military spokesman Fredesvindo Covarrubias.

The Abu Sayyaf is held responsible for kidnappings and bombings in the south, including the pillaging of a Christian town last year in which at least 50 people were killed.

Southern command military chief Ruperto Ambil has ordered field commanders to pursue MILF rebels "without let-up," as the MILF leadership expressed skepticism about the government's call for cease-fire negotiations.

"We feel doubtful on the real intention of the government. They offered an interim cease-fire and they attack Basilan," said MILF vice-chairman for military affairs Al-haj Murad. He was referring to the government's attack last week on a rebel base in Basilan, forcing some 200 rebels to flee.

But government emissaries have been holding preliminary talks with MILF representatives, and "the moment we get an interim cease-fire agreed, then all these military activities and operations in the areas claimed by the MILF ... will stop," Torres said.

The MILF is a splinter group of the Moro National Liberation Front, which ended its 24-year armed separatist bid with last month's peace treaty that will give Moslems a large measure of autonomy in the south.

The MILF is now considered the government's biggest threat to peace in the southern Philippines.

Yesterday's fighting began after a military patrol engaged a group of between 20 and 30 MILF rebels who had been set to ambush them, Covarrubias said.

He claimed the gunmen were former rebels turned bandits who entered Tipo-Tipo town and planned to "kidnap teachers and extort money."

But the MILF leadership said they were still part of their movement. Covarrubias said the military had not received orders from Manila to cease the assault.