The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is reiterating its 1997 formal declaration to fully support the International Campaign to ban antipersonnel mines. Except in strictly "defensive and discriminate" use of landmines for the defense, preservation or survival of the MILF and the Bangsamoro people with due regards to the safety and right of innocent people to live a full life, and not to kill, injure or harm those who do not fight, the MILF has adopted internal regulations prohibiting the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of antipersonnel mines. The Implementing Operational Guidelines of the GRP-MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities signed by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on November 14, 1997 included "landminings" among the agressive actions considered "prohibited hostile acts". The MILF has strictly observed this agreement and hopes that all governments and other resistance movements can also agree to ban anti-personnel mines.
Given this 13th day of March, 2000 at Camp Abubakar as-Siddigue, Maguindanao, Mindanao.
(signed)
Ghazali Jaafar
Vice-Chairman for Political Affairs
Central Committee
The Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) use of landmines (ATM's and APM's) is strictly defensive and discriminate. MILF "defensive and discriminate" use of landmines is strictly in accordance with Islamic rules and discipline. It refers to "such use of landmines to defend selected areas only which are necessary for the defense, preservation or survival of the MILF and the Bangsamoro people with due regards to the rights and safety of innocent people so as not to kill, injure or harm those who do not fight, like animals, environment, nature, etc. As a matter of fact, the Implementing Operational Guidelines of the GRP-MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities signed by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on November 14, 1997 included "landminings" among the agressive actions considered as "prohibited hostile acts".
If needed for defense (self preservation), the MILF/BIAF will use anti-personnel mines (APM's) but discriminately, only when the need of it arises or as the situation dictates, and upon order of the concerned MILF Commander on the ground during actual combat. MILF/BIAF APM's and ATM's foreign and home-made, are command-detonated, tripwire, pressured triggered, or any of it.
So far, there are no civilian casualties or victims of landminings blamed to the MILF/BIAF, due to strict precautionary measures, secrecy, and proper monitoring undertaken by BIAF commanders, considering that the MILF is a mass-based resistance movement. The production, stockpiling and/or transfer of landmines are beyond the reach and without the participation of unauthorized members or civilians.
Along this line, the MILF has already formally declared to fully support the International campaign to ban anti-personnel mines (APM's) and has adopted internal regulations prohibiting the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines.
Done this 13th day of March, 2000 at Camp Abubakar as-Siddique, Maguindanao, Mindanao.
(signed)
Ghazali Jaafar
Vice-Chairman for Political Affairs
Central Committee