Political leaders in the southern Philippines have started arming civilians and local militias following two weeks of Muslim unrest that has left dozens dead, Amnesty International said yesterday.
Amnesty said it had “verified” reports that civilians in several parts of revolt-hit Mindanao island — the scene of recent attacks by Muslim separatist rebels — were either arming themselves or being given arms by local officials.
In the city of Iligan, some “300 licensed gun owners, politicians and local government officials have set up a civilian militia,” the London-based human rights watchdog said in a statement received in Manila.
Amnesty said it had confirmed reports that “local patrons have already supplied guns and ammunition to civilian militias and police auxiliaries.”
Separately, Philippine Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno confirmed yesterday that “civilian volunteer organizations” (CVOs), in the south would be deputized to help police.
“Our CVOs will help the Philippine National Police to secure the towns and population centres,” he told reporters.
The armed conflict in Mindanao escalated after the Supreme Court suspended a peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Muslim separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Aug. 4. The government announced on Thursday it was scrapping the agreement, which would have seen the establishment of a Muslim homeland in the south and aimed to end a 40-year conflict that has left more than 120,000 dead.
In the past two weeks, MILF rebels have attacked towns and villages throughout North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte provinces, killing civilians, burning and looting homes, farms and businesses.
“MILF units that targeted villages have engaged in serious violations of international law and should be held to account,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Director. “But experience from around the world shows that the deployment of civilian militias can set off a chain of reprisals and only increases the danger facing civilians.”
Amnesty warned that arming and deputizing civilians could inflame an already tense situation in Mindanao.
“The recent violent attacks by MILF elements have of course shaken many of Mindanao’s residents, who have every right to demand greater protection,” Zarifi said. “Many people in Mindanao are terrified of a return to a period when armed Muslim insurgents and Christian vigilante ‘Ilaga’ groups attacked civilians with impunity.”
Army Brigadier General Jorge Segovia said the military launched air and ground bombardments against MILF rebels in Mindanao.
“Our air assets have been hitting their targets,” he said. “We have been inflicting heavy casualties on their side. We will hunt them down. Their positions are military targets.”
Army Colonel Marlou Salazar, a ground commander, said soldiers overran an abandoned satellite camp of the MILF in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province yesterday, 960km south of Manila.
“The rebels have abandoned their satellite camp due to intense bombardment,” he said. “Our soldiers have taken over the camp.”
Sporadic clashes were reported in seven towns in Maguindanao, where 16 MILF guerrillas and one soldier have been killed in the past three days.
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