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By Rommel C. Lontayao, Reporter
The Australian envoy to Manila on Thursday
warned that renewed fighting in southern Philippines could derail
talks for lasting peace there, negate the country’s efforts to
stamp out terrorism and possibly open the gates to international
terrorists.
“We are concerned about recent developments in
Mindanao, with the civilians being affected and their houses being
burned,” Ambassador Rod Smith said during an exclusive roundtable
with The Manila Times. He was apparently referring to renewed
fighting in the country’s second biggest group of islands, a
hotbed of Muslim insurgency for nearly four decades.
The fighting, which began on Monday, was
reported to have been initiated by separatist rebels from the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Dozens of mostly civilians were
also reported to have been killed and wounded and thousands of
others displaced.
According to Smith, the new round of clashes in
the South could embolden “members of international terrorist
groups to use the place [Mindanao] as training ground.” He noted
the supposed “absence of security” despite “the presence of
insurgents” there.
“We want to see the peace restored so that
Mindanao cannot be used as a safe haven for terrorists anymore,”
the Australian ambassador said.
Was to witness signing
Smith was one of those invited to witness the
supposed signing in Malaysia on August 5 of a peace agreement
between the Philippine government and the MILF that would establish
the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity, or the ancestral domain of the
country’s Muslim minority. Such domain, according to government
critics, would practically amount to an independent Islamic homeland
in the Philippines.
“Our presence there [in Malaysia for the
signing] is just to indicate that we support the peace process,”
the Australian ambassador said. The scheduled signing, though, was
aborted by the Philippine Supreme Court on petitions from local
officials in Mindanao.
Canberra provides around P4.4 billion in aid to
Manila, one of the biggest recipients of official development
assistance. The package also includes military equipment and
supplies and training for the Philippines’ soldiers and policemen.
The two governments engage in annual dialogues
on counter-terrorism.
“Australia works side by side with the
Philippines to help Filipinos achieve development through education
and social-volunteerism programs, military aid, and [also to help]
maintain good political and trade relations,” Smith said.
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