Violence in southern Philippines forces 5,000 villagers to flee

At least 5,000 villagers have fled their homes in nearly a week of sporadic clashes between Muslim guerrillas and pro-government militiamen in the southern Philippines, rebels and officials said today.

Col. Felipe Tabas, the military chief in the area, said clashes continued between Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels and civilian volunteers armed by the local government in two villages of Maguindanao province’s Mamapasano town, but that no new casualties have been reported.

Provincial administrator Nori Unas said some 5,000 residents from nine municipalities “have evacuated to wherever it is safe, mostly along the national highway”.

The National Disaster Co-ordinating Centre said skirmishes had displaced 3,300 families; 2,149 families were staying in evacuation centres and the rest with relatives.

“The relief operation has been postponed due to the critical situation,” it added.

Tabas said the military was verifying intelligence reports and civilian accounts that three militiamen had been killed and six injured since fighting broke out June 29. On the MILF side, he said there were unconfirmed reports of 15 dead and 20 injured.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu claimed up to 40 militiamen had been killed and 30 injured. Two guerrillas were killed and 10 injured, he added.

Kabalu earlier accused the militiamen of attacking MILF positions in three villages in Shariff Aguak with mortars and gunfire last Wednesday, prompting the guerrillas to retaliate. Military and police officials said MILF rebels were the first to attack.

Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan, who has had differences with some MILF commanders, escaped a car bomb attack on June 23 that killed six people, including two of his relatives, in Shariff Aguak. Police blamed two MILF commanders.

Kabalu said the militiamen, some of whom are under Ampatuan’s control, may have launched attacks on the guerrillas in retaliation for the bomb attack.

“The situation on the ground is still very tense because no measure has been imposed to resolve the problem,” Kabalu said.

Executive secretary Eduardo Ermita said the clashes had not impaired peace talks with the MILF and that officials were working to settle the conflict.

The MILF and the government forged a cease-fire in 2003, halting widespread fighting and fostering peace negotiations brokered by Malaysia. Both sides are optimistic that they could sign a peace accord this year.

The MILF, which the military says has at least 11,000 armed fighters, has been waging an insurrection for self-rule in the impoverished southern region of Mindanao for decades.