MILF declares SOMA

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/25 July) – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) declared at 4 p.m. today a Suspension Of Military Actions (SOMA), 48 hours after Malacanang declared a Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO) in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

The declaration was immediately welcomed by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs; also known as evacuees or bakwits), and peace advocates.

"For us IDPs, we are happy with the declaration of SOMO and SOMA by both sides. We hope this continues so we start life anew and our children can go to school,” Syriambai Sanganpan, said in Pilipino. She and her family have been living with relatives in the poblacion of Datu Piang since August last year, when they fled Barangay Dado.
Abhoud Syed Lingga, Executive Director of the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies, said, the GRP declaration of a SOMO and the MILF’s declaration of a SOMA are positive developments that hopefully will lead to resumption of peace talks.” Lingga cautioned “other government officials to refrain issuing negative statements that might undermine the peace process.”

Fr. Eliseo “Jun” Mercado, former president of the Notre Dame University and presently the director of the Institute for Autonomy and Governance, a Mindanao think tank, said the government’s SOMO and MILF’ SOMA are “two goodwill gestures from the parties (that will) hopefully bear fruit in the resumption of the peace talks and return of the IDPs to their homes.”

MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim issued General Order 003-09-A, ordering his “Brothers in the Struggle” to “observe strictly the SOMA in all the areas of responsibility of BIAF (Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces) against Philippine government forces;” adhere to all the provisions of the agreement on the general cessation of hostilities between the MILF and the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines)” and “support and cooperate with efforts for the revitalization and strengthening of the ceasefire mechanisms on the ground” as may be agreed by the MILF and GRP.

MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal told MindaNews the SOMA was issued around 4 p.m. by Murad.

The order was contained in the three-paragraph General Order No. 003-09-A addressed to “all officers and men of the BIAF,” citing the declaration of SOMA by the BIAF and “in compliance with the resolution of the MILF Central Committee”

Ebrahim’s order, however, notes that the MILF “takes reservation to the provision of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines’ Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) to the effect that the PNP, with the support role of AFP, will continue the manhunt operations against the so-called ‘rogue commanders.’”

“For this purpose, the concerned commanders are hereby directed to continue in defensive position mode and exercise the right to self defense when attacked,” the order read.

The order refered to Ustaz Ameril Umbra Kato, Abdullah Macapaar aka Commander Bravo and Aleem Solaiman Pangalian, whom the military claims to be “rogue” commanders but whom the MILF claims to be “legitimate” commanders.

Two days earlier, on July 23, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced at 4 p.m. the declaration of a SOMO by the President, purportedly to “advance stability and peace in the conflict-affected areas of Mindanao, intensify and sustain law enforcement measures, and provide a stable environment for the resumption of the peace talks” between the government and MILF.

“Pursuant to this Directive, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shall suspend all offensive operations in the conflict-affected areas” and shall revert to Active Defense mode as provided for in the “Guidelines on the Primacy of the Peace Process” and the subsequent “Reminders on the GRP-MILF Peace Process.”

But the order also states that the Philippine National Police “shall continue to undertake its law enforcement activities to bring the three renegade MILF commanders and other lawless elements to the bar of justice. The AFP shall play a support role.”

Ermita’s announcement of the SOMO came just as thousands of IDPs from at least seven towns in Maguindanao and North Cotabato -- braved the afternoon sun, lining up along the national highway with their placards and streamers demanding “stop the war,” “resume the peace talks” in what has been dubbed as “Bakwit Power 2.”

A State of the Bakwit Address (SOBA) was held earlier in the morning at the gymnasium of the Notre Dame University, demanding an end to war and resumption to peace talks.

Cotabato Arcbhishop Orlando Quevedo’s “open appeal for peace and for our evacuees,” addressed to “all warring parties” was read at the SOBA. Quevedo urged both parties to “end your war” because “enough is enough.”

Government peace panel chair Rafael Seguis, who was in the press briefing with Ermita, was quoted as saying that the issuance of the SOMO was “triggered by the mounting number of IDPs in Maguindanao where they are living in deplorable conditions.”

“And we hope that with this SOMO, the IDPs could be able to return to their respective barangays and communities,” he said.

North Cotabato Governor Jesus Sacdalan had earlier expressed support for the “immediate resumption of the peace talks.”

Sacdalan told the State of the Bakwits Address (SOBA) in Cotabato City morning of July 23 that majority in his province is for peace.

He told MindaNews he hopes the government and MILF peace panels “look for a new formula that will be acceptable to all.”

“Ninety nine per cent or 100% of the people in my province, except for those with agenda, are for peace,” he said.
He said they will work for the return of the IDPs to their respective villages and will help them with livelihood support “so that they can live in dignity.”

Fr. Eduardo Vasquez, OMI, parish priest of the predominantly Muslim town of Datu Piang, Maguindanao and head of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate’s Inter-Religious Dialogue, told MindaNews that the declaration of the SOMA is “a concrete manifestation that the MILF is really serious in dealing with the government. All of us are really longing for peace. The MILF, too, is tired of fighting,” he said.

The last time the government and MILF peace panels met was on July 27, 2008 when they initialled the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) in Kuala Lumpur, the third agreement on the three agenda items -- security, relief and rehabilitation, and ancestral domain -- prior to what would have been the discussion on the political settlement.

The formal signing of the MOA-AD was scheduled for August 5, 2008 but a day earlier, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order stopping the government peace panel chair from signing the document.

The Supreme Court on October 14 declared the MOA-AD unconstitutional. Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)