Moro group condemns bombings,
But tells president "do not solve terror with terror"
Moro-Christian
Peoples Alliance (MCPA)
February 15, 2005
The
mounting death toll caused by the orchestrated bombings that hit
Makati, General Santos, and Davao City, which were all claimed
to have been conducted by the "Abu Sayyaf Group" as
a "valentine gift" for the president, triggered condemnation
from the Muslim sector.
"To unleash such terror that victimized the innocent is deplorable
and condemnable to the highest degree. Whoever conducted the bombings
has proven that they are not the "vanguards of Islam"
that they claim to be. Instead, they turn out to be an enemy of
the people," Cosain Naga, Moro Christian Peoples Alliance
(MCPA) Spokesman said.
Forewarning against crackdowns
On the other hand, Naga warned that the Arroyo government should
not use these strings of bombings to once again conduct crackdowns
in Moro communities both in Metro Manila and in Mindanao.
"It is a widely known fact that the military and the police
has for many a time wreaked terror in Moro communities in the
guise of running after such bandit groups as the ASG and the Pentagon
Gang. It is also common knowledge that these operations end up
to illegal detentions, torture, and other cases of harassment
mostly among innocent civilians" Naga said citing instances
in the Basilan crackdown on 2001 which caused more than 100 Moro
men, including women to be jailed.
He added, "we fear that with the ASG's crimes, our innocent
Moro brothers and sisters will suffer the backlash (retaliation)
from the military. Hence, we ask the Arroyo government along with
the national police and military to exercise good judgment and
prudence in facing this matter. Terror with not be solved with
terror."
Peace Efforts
According to the MCPA, the Bangsamoro and the Filipino people
must push the Arroyo government to pursue genuine peace efforts.
"The raging war in Sulu and these series of bombings root
from causes that the government has long failed to address. Unfortunate
it may be to say, we fear that as long as a genuine peace efforts
are not shown by the Arroyo administration, there will be no end
to the cyclical pattern of war in Mindanao and to the series of
retaliation attacks from bandit groups which the inutile military
and police have long failed to curb," Naga said.
MORO-CHRISTIAN PEOPLES ALLIANCE (MCPA)
#48 A Mapagbigay St. Brgy Pinyahan Diliman QC
Tel 4337025