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February 11, 2005, The Philippine Star, Troops overrun Nur followers' lair in Jolo,

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February 11, 2005, The Philippine Star, Troops overrun Nur followers' lair in Jolo, by Roel Pareño,

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ZAMBOANGA CITY - Troops stormed and overran the hideout of suspected followers of former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Nur Misuari in Panamao, Sulu yesterday, but the soldiers still faced heavy resistance from the rebels. 

Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) chief Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza said his men captured the camp of a certain Commander Habier Malik in Barangay Bitan-ag at about 10 a.m. yesterday. 

"Heavy fighting continued to rage since this morning as the troops penetrated the lair of Commander Malik," he said. "We will not stop until we get all those attackers responsible (for) the death of our soldiers." 

Sulu military commander Brig. Gen. Agustin Dema-ala said troops are still encountering heavy resistance from the renegades who have staked out positions at the perimeter of the camp. 

"We have overrun the lair and troops have enforced (their) presence," he said. "Fighting continues as of the moment and troops are meeting strong resistance." 

Dema-ala, also Task Force Comet chief, said about 15 to 20 suspected Misuari supporters were killed as troops occupied the hideout near Barangay Siit in Panamao town. 

Some of the rebels started to withdraw toward nearby Panamao, and troops have been deployed to block their retreat, Dema-ala said. 

Commodore Rufino Lopez, Naval Forces Western Mindanao chief, said a naval blockade has been established to prevent the rebels from escaping by sea and to intercept possible reinforcements from other islands. 

At least five battalions of Army soldiers and Marines have been sent to reinforce the troops fighting the rebels who earlier attacked military camps in Sulu. 

Braganza confirmed US troops have arrived in Jolo, but said they were not involved in the operations and were only providing assistance through training in an advisory capacity. 

The attacks were meant to pressure the government into transferring Misuari to a detention center in Sulu from Fort Sto. Domingo, a police training camp in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Braganza said.

Col. Domingo Jimenez Tutaan, Southcom chief of staff, said nine more soldiers were killed as the rebels fired mortar shells at government positions in Sulu as heavy fighting raged for the fourth straight day. 

"There is stiff resistance as we continue with our operations in their areas," he told reporters over the telephone yesterday. 

"We have been directed to continue with our offensives against the enemy to flush them out and neutralize the threat they pose." 

Tutaan said troops have coordinated with the Crisis Management Committee and local disaster officials to give assistance to the displaced civilian residents. 

"So far, we have yet to receive reports that civilians have been caught in the crossfire," he said. 

A senior military officer and one soldier were killed and seven others wounded in the latest violence when troops preparing to assault the lair of suspected Misuari supporters were ambushed in Barangay Siit, Panamao town. 

Killed was Lt. Col. Dennis Villanueva, commanding officer of the 53rd Infantry Battalion. The identity of the slain soldier was not immediately known. 

More than 100 soldiers and rebels have been killed or wounded in heavy fighting triggered by the death of a Muslim child in a crossfire after troops clashed with Abu Sayyaf terrorists. 

Clashes erupted in Jolo on Monday following attacks by suspected Misuari followers against troops in several towns in Sulu. 

The latest casualties bring the total number of military deaths to over 20 with at least 46 wounded. 

The rebels reportedly suffered over 60 dead and wounded. 

At least 500 families from five towns have been evacuated to safer areas in Jolo, a known stronghold of armed militants and the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf.

President Arroyo, who was in the island of Mindanao yesterday, has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to keep all civilians out of harm's way during its offensive operations against criminals and terrorists in Sulu. 

"I am glad we are here in Mindanao so that you can all see the permanent peace in Mindanao is within reach even as we have to push the fight against terror to the limit," she said after issuing instructions to Braganza. 

"We will win the peace for the people but we will not give the terrorists a moment of peace," she said. She added the military operations are not aimed at the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) which Misuari once headed and which signed a peace pact with the government in 1996. 

Filipinos working with projects funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) were ordered to evacuate Jolo with their families yesterday and head to nearby Zamboanga City. 

It was not immediately clear how many Filipinos were employed by USAID projects in Jolo, where more than 100 soldiers and suspected followers of Misuari have either been killed or wounded.

A spokeswoman for one of the USAID projects in Manila said she was not aware of such an order. 

However, she said that their staffers in Jolo were told as early as Tuesday to stay within the confines of their offices for safety. 

Continued fighting in Sulu has prevented Gov. Benjamin Loong and an emissary to stop the hostility between suspected followers of Misuari and government troops. 

Abdurahman Jamasali, House consultant on Mindanao affairs who was sent by Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. to negotiate with rebels, said sporadic clashes have continued since Wednesday night. 

"We were advised not to penetrate the area because we might fall in the crossfire," he said. 

Jamasali and Loong asked Braganza to declare a ceasefire to allow them to determine the cause of the hostility. 

However, Braganza rejected their plea. 

Meanwhile, police have been placed on alert in Zamboanga City following reports that breakaway MNLF guerrillas might launch diversionary attacks. 

Western Area police commander Director Vidal Querol said additional policemen from the regional police command have been deployed to reinforce the city's police force. 

"We have increased the police force and additional police commandos are placed on standby and are ready to respond (to) any eventuality," he said. Speedy trial for Misuari to stop fighting - Hussin 

Meanwhile, ARMM Gov. Farouk Hussin sought yesterday a speedy trial for Misuari, who is being tried for rebellion before the Laguna regional trial court. 

Speaking to reporters at the ARMM Health Summit in Pasay City yesterday, Hussin said the followers of Misuari are restless because their leader's trial has been dragging on. 

"Until now, there is no serious trial of Misuari," he said. "Further delays will just ignite more protests
from (his group)." 

Hussin urged Misuari to deliver a message to his supporters to "calm down" so the situation in Sulu - Misuari's bailiwick - would return to normal. 

"I appeal to both sides to observe maximum caution and compassion, especially for innocent civilians," he said. 

"From our experience in the past, anytime there is a clash like that, the victims are always the innocent civilians. We are very sad that while we are trying to address the lingering problems in ARMM, things like this are still happening." 

Misuari is the founder of the MNLF, which signed a peace treaty with the government in 1995 when he was its chairman. 

He was later elected governor of ARMM until he was replaced in 2001. 

Misuari was arrested and detained at Fort Sto. Domingo more than three years ago after leading a failed revolt in Jolo to protest his sacking. Romulo assures OIC of peace in Mindanao 

On the other hand, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo assured envoys from the Organization of Islamic Conference that the peace initiative in Mindanao is on track despite the clashes. 

OIC members Malaysia, Brunei and Libya have troops deployed on the island to monitor a ceasefire between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to help find a political settlement to the decades-old separatist rebellion. 

The MILF, a splinter group of the MNLF, was excluded from the 1996 peace agreement. 

"There are certain issues that have to be threshed out," he told reporters shortly after he and Silvestre Afable, chief government negotiator in peace talks with the MILF, gave envoys of 14 OIC member-states a private briefing. 

Romulo said the clashes on Jolo over the past four days are peripheral. 

"I think both the (government) and the MILF together with the monitoring team are focused on what they are doing," he said. 

Meanwhile, Muslim leaders appealed yesterday to the government and the MNLF to immediately stop the fighting in Sulu to save the lives of thousands of people. 

"Both sides must always remember that it is the people of Sulu who are most affected by this conflict," said Amina Rasul, organizer of the Philippine Council on Islam and Democracy. 

"As efforts are being made in the area of peace and development in Mindanao, it is unfortunate that the fighting should occur at this time. 

"Wala namang hindi napaguusapan ng maayos. All of us are Filipinos, let us set aside the thing which caused this, and resolve our problems through constructive dialogue." 

Since fighting began Sunday, 20 soldiers have died and 49 others have been wounded. 

The greatest number of casualties was the 13 Marines killed last Monday when their convoy was ambushed in Patikul. 

Military officials claim 30 rebels have been killed, although only five bodies have been recovered. 

So far, 500 families or roughly 3,000 individuals have been evacuated from Panamao because of heavy fighting. Senators join call for AFP-MNLF truce 

On the other hand, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. asked the Armed Forces and the MNLF yesterday to stop hostilities in Sulu. 

"Perhaps, the Palace should designate respected Muslim political and religious leaders to act (as) intermediaries or mediators between the AFP and MNLF rebels identified with former ARMM governor Nur Misuari," he said. 

Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. asked Misuari to appeal to his supposed followers to stop their attacks and agree to a truce with the military. 

"His (Misuari) men are out there for unknown reasons, defeating the waged principles they have been fighting before," he said. 

"As their leader, Misuari should call and appeal for his men's clear-headedness as the government signified its intention to listen to whatever demands they want to convey." - With reports from Jaime Laude, Sheila Crisostomo, Jose Rodel Clapano, Marichu Villanueva,
AFP 

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News200502110402.htm

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