ARROYO DIRECTS MILITARY TO ADVANCE MILF PEACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000828 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2017 TAGS: PINS KISL RP SUBJECT: ARROYO DIRECTS MILITARY TO ADVANCE MILF PEACE PROCESS REF: MANILA 782 Classified By: Pol/C Scott Bellard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. President Arroyo on March 12 directed closer cooperation between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and established peace process mechanisms with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). This new directive, which followed months of sporadic skirmishing between AFP and MILF units in central Mindanao, as well as a March 10 statement by the MILF leadership that the cease-fire with the Philippine Government was on the verge of collapse, further highlighted the importance of better interagency cooperation/coordination and more carefully calibrated tactical operations. The President's directive also helpfully underscored again the Philippine Government's strong commitment to the peace process in Mindanao. End Summary. -------------- MILF Issues Strong Warning -------------- ¶2. (U) In a March 10 press statement, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Central Committee Member/Chief Information Officer/Chief Peace Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal warned that the Philippine Government-MILF cease-fire was in danger of collapsing from repeated violations of the cease-fire by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). MILF leaders alleged that OV-10 planes dropped at least 22 bombs during the March 5-7 fighting in Midsayap, North Cotabato (reftel),that elements of the AFP 64th Infantry Battalion shot two civilians in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao on March 8, and that the AFP fired 21 artillery barrages at MILF positions during fighting in Dapiawan, Datu Piang, Maguindanao on March 9. ¶3. (U) MILF Coordinating Committee for the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) Chairman Von Al-Haq presented the MILF's view of the sporadic outbreaks of fighting during a March 12 peace forum at Southern Christian College in Midsayap organized by the Mindanao Peoples' Peace Movement and the Mindanao PeaceWeavers. GRP/CCCH Chairman Brig-Gen Edgardo Gurrea, International Monitoring Team (IMT) Deputy Head of Mission Brig-Gen Dato Zainal bin Abdurahman, and AFP 6th Infantry Division Commander Maj-Gen Nehemias Pajarito also attended the forum. In his statement, Maj-Gen Pajarito expressed full support for the peace process, and said that AFP troops in Midsayap would be repositioned. -------------- GRP Security Officials Meet -------------- ¶4. (C) According to Executive Director of the Philippine Government's Peace Negotiations Panel Ryan Sullivan, Philippine security officials met on March 12 to discuss issues affecting the peace process. Following this meeting, President Arroyo issued a press release containing directives to the Department of National Defense (DND) and the AFP to: work closely with established peace process mechanisms (Joint CCCH, Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, and the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team); review and amend current AFP Guidelines on the peace process and strictly enforce the amended guidelines; adhere to the 1997 Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities and its Implementing Guidelines; conduct a comprehensive study of all doctrines, standards, and criteria of operational performance to identify and resolve inconsistencies; and, exercise restraint in the use of artillery and aerial bombing. ¶5. (U) President Arroyo also emphasized in her directive that "without impairing the operational flexibility and quick response of the AFP in countering threats of terrorism, insurgency and criminality, all commanders in the field are enjoined to be constantly aware of the strategic implications of tactical actions in the proximity of MILF areas." -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Inadequate interagency cooperation/coordination by some elements of the AFP, as well as actions by some elements of the MILF and some Local Government Units, remain impediments to the peace process and continue to put some lives at risk and create internally displaced persons. President Arroyo's new directive underscored in no uncertain MANILA 00000828 002 OF 002 terms the Philippine Government's strong commitment toward advancing the peace process in Mindanao and reining in any wayward or overly aggressive elements of the security forces. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/ KENNEY