Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Fides Service) - “We condemn all forms of violence and terrorism. It is urgent to resume dialogue. Violence can only bring death. The separatist rebels must lay down their weapons and the army must not seek revenge” Father Eliseo Mercado an Oblate Missionary of Immaculate Mary (OMI) is head of the OMI Commission for Justice and Peace. He taught for many years at Notre Dame University in Cotabato, Mindanao.
Father Mercado commented on recent events in the Philippines: while in the southern Island of Jolo fighting continues between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the regular army, on 14 February three almost simultaneous bomb explosions rocked the country killing 12 people and injuring at least 150. The government has put national security forces on the alert.
The worst explosion was in Manila’s commercial centre Makati. The bomb exploded on a bus killing 6 people and injuring at least 95. The bus was travelling on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, in central Manila. Two hours earlier a bomb exploded in a bus depot in Davao, Mindanao killing one boy and injuring nine other people. The third explosion in a shopping mall in the city of General Santos, in the south, killed five people and wounded 30.
Claiming responsibility on the radio, Abu Solaiman a leader of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group said the attacks were meant to punish president Arroyo for the heavy army offensive launched in Jolo where the group has its main base. He said the bomb blasts were a “Valentine gift for the President”, in response to “atrocities committed against Muslims by the Philippines government”.
In Jolo there are about 5,000 regular army troops, some 800 Abu Sayyaf militia and about 3,000 rebels of the MNLF group although it signed a cease fire agreement with Manila in 1996. According to Father Mercado these latest events could be an attempt to destabilise the government at a time when it is already unpopular because of the country’s economic crisis. Moreover a key function on the scenario of the rebel groups - which besides are “all connected” - could be played by Nur Misuari, former MNLF leader, later integrated in the civil administration of the autonomous Region of Mindanao, and then arrested on charges of corruption and terrorism. The missionary fears fighting and tension may prevent peace talks resuming with another group Moro Islamic Liberation Front, with which Manila hopes to start negotiations. Father Mercado hopes for talks “from which no one is excluded: rebel leaders, religious leaders, local leaders, administrators and government officials”, above all to put an end to the hardship of 3,000 homeless families on the island of Jolo.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/2/2005 righe 34 parole 375)
