Related: Who is Phooling Around in the Philippines?
"Rebels mount attacks in Philippines
MANILA - Rebels in the southern Philippines staged a series of attacks this week that left at least nine civilians dead, in what appeared to be a bid to pressure the government to restart negotiations that have been stalled for months, analysts said yesterday.
On Tuesday, members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the main group that has been fighting for Muslim self-rule in the predominantly Roman Catholic region of Mindanao since the 1970s, attacked villages in Sultan Kudarat township, killing nine civilians and wounding more, the military said.
The next day, Christmas Eve, the rebels staged another attack, in the town of Alamada, according to a news report. "The attacks came while the people were setting off firecrackers," said Ernesto Concepcion, mayor of Alamada, ABS-CBN television reported. "The attackers timed their attacks during the revelry."
I don't like the timing, etc, but I'm holding my tongue.
The rebels denied that they had tried to attack civilians. Eid Kabalu, a spokesman for the rebels, instead blamed the military for stepping up its offensives in the past several days.
Really? Hadn't seen anything about that in my war daily.
Peace negotiations between the two sides have been stalled since August, when the government nullified an agreement that would have expanded a Muslim autonomous region. Julkipli Wadi, an analyst and professor at the Institute of Islamic Studies at the University of Philippines, said the recent attacks appeared to be an effort by the insurgents to press the government to restart peace talks.
A cry for help, huh?
