US embassy cable - 05MANILA281

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000281 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/PMBS,INR/EAP, USIP - SOLOMON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2015 
TAGS: PINS, PTER, PREL, MOPS, MY, RP 
SUBJECT: GRP AND MILF EXPECT TALKS SOON, WILL COOPERATE ON 
CRIMINAL INTERDICTION 
 
REF: A. MANILA 142 
     B. 03 MANILA 6020 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Joseph Saus 
for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1.  (C) GRP and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sources 
confirmed both sides are ready for another round of talks 
tentatively slated for the first week of February.  The sides 
are prepared to discuss the nettlesome ancestral domain 
issue.  The cease-fire remains strong despite the January 9 
clash that left almost 20 dead on both sides.  The GRP plans 
to pursue criminally the MILF commander responsible, whose 
activities the MILF leadership did not sanction.  Both GRP 
and MILF officials note the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group 
(AHJAG), currently in its formative stages, could be used in 
the future to avert similar incidents by arresting commanders 
who operate outside MILF command and control.  The GRP 
intends to coordinate a list with the MILF of high priority 
targets that may include terrorists and criminals.  In "hot 
pursuit" of such targets, the GRP is not obligated to give 
prior notice to MILF counterparts.  End Summary. 
 
More Progress Reported 
---------------------- 
 
2.  (SBU) At a January 19 briefing to the Manila Diplomatic 
Corps held at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Secretary 
Silvestre Afable, Chief GRP Negotiator with the Moro Islamic 
Liberation Front (MILF), said both the GRP and MILF expect to 
hold another round of exploratory talks the first week of 
February.  Both sides have formulated their respective 
positions on identifying historic Muslim territory, known as 
ancestral domain, although Afable was reluctant to elaborate 
in a public setting. 
 
3.  (SBU) Afable provided a very positive assessment of the 
Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the 
joint GRP-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of 
Hostilities (CCCH) -- both charged with cease-fire 
monitoring.  Afable also highlighted the role of Joint 
Monitoring Teams -- with representatives from the Armed 
Forces of the Philippines (AFP), MILF combatants, and a local 
cease-fire monitoring NGO called "Bantay Ceasefire" 
(Ceasefire Guard) -- as crucial in some of the more 
conflict-affected areas.  The CCCH also has small "Local 
Monitoring Teams" (LMTs) (with representatives from the GRP, 
MILF, NGOs, and the religious sectors) in 13 provinces 
throughout Mindanao.  The LMTs monitor the day-to-day status 
of the cease-fire at the community level. 
 
Cease-Fire Lauded 
----------------- 
 
4.  (SBU) Afable noted a dramatic decline in armed skirmishes 
since the AFP,s Buliok offensive in February 2003 and the 
reactivation of the CCCH the following July.  He said from 
January to July 2003, the Office of the Presidential Adviser 
on the Peace Process (OPAPP) recorded 528 skirmishes.  Only 
31 incidents were reported until December 2003.  In all of 
2004, OPAPP recorded 71 incidents. 
 
Cooperation Results From Isolated Skirmish 
------------------------------------------ 
 
5.  (SBU) Afable characterized the recent clashes in 
Maguindanao as "isolated incidents."  At the DFA briefing, 
poloff received a document detailing the January 9 clashes. 
The report said as many as 300 armed MILF elements under 
Commander Ustadz Abdul Wahid Tundok attacked a nine-man AFP 
detachment.  After a day of fighting, the AFP retook the 
detachment.  Six soldiers were killed with one soldier 
exhibiting evidence of torture.  Thirteen MILF fighters were 
killed, according to the report. 
 
6.  (SBU) During an earlier January 13 press conference after 
a CCCH meeting on the incident, Brigadier General Alexander 
Yano, Chief of the GRP delegation to the CCCH, said the GRP 
will pursue Wahid and fellow commander Abdurakman Bides 
Binago as common criminals.  The outgoing MILF representative 
to the CCCH, Benjie Midtimbang (to be replaced by Von 
al-Haq), was less direct.  Reading from an official memo from 
the Chief of Staff of MILF forces, he said the MILF 
leadership "does not sanction the (January 9) engagement of 
Commander Wahid."  He also reiterated MILF support for the 
cease-fire and for all MILF commanders to report to MILF 
military headquarters. 
7.  (C) On January 18, MILF technical advisor, Attorney Musib 
Buat said the skirmish resulted from a "personal grudge" 
between Binago and "a group that attacked his brother" (ref 
A).  He added the MILF continues to investigate the incident 
and the commander in question.  He also said the 72-hour 
deadline placed by the AFP for Wahid to surrender would not 
allow the MILF to complete its investigation. 
 
8.  (SBU) At the DFA briefing Afable told poloff that the 
long awaited Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) could be used 
in searching for and eventually arresting maverick commanders 
such as Wahid.  In the future, the GRP and the MILF will 
coordinate on a list of "high priority targets."  He stressed 
that Wahid would be held responsible for the soldiers' deaths 
and would be included on the list.  Notably, Afable said that 
in cases of high priority targets, the AFP and PNP do not 
need to give prior notice to the MILF in "hot pursuit" 
operations. 
 
9.  (C) Comment:  The AHJAG finally has momentum behind it -- 
the most to date since it was conceptualized in an August 
2002 GRP-MILF joint communiqu.  Nonetheless the AHJAG is 
still being formulated and is not yet operational.  The fact 
that a coordinated list of wanted "criminals" (to include 
terrorists such as the Jemmah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf Group) 
will circulate among the AFP, PNP, and MILF leadership is 
welcome news.  The MILF appears to be working with the GRP on 
this score, but remains careful not to appear excessively 
accommodating to the GRP side -- likely to sustain the 
loyalty of its rank-and-file who view Manila with suspicion. 
We will track and encourage the formation of the AHJAG as a 
vital tool in clearing criminals and terrorists from MILF 
ranks.  End Comment. 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/ 
Ricciardone