By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
COTABATO, Philippines – The Philippine Military accused the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of using children as soldiers against the government. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita revealed that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will inform the UN General Assembly in New York this Thursday, citing a video clip of MILF’s human rights violations.
A member of the army’s 6th Infantry Division, Lieutenant Colonel Julieto Ando, stated that troops seized a video from a captured MILF base in Maguindanao. Footage shows MILF’s recruitment and training of children.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child prohibits state governments and armed groups from using children under the age of 18 in armed conflict. However, although they admit to deploying young soldiers, MILF denies the use of children in their ranks. Eid Kabalu, a senior rebel leader and civil miltary affairs chief, stated, “We have young members and these are the sons and even relatives of MILF []. We teach these young revolutionaries how to defend themselves from aggressors. They are not child warriors . . . .” Furthermore, Muhammad Ameen, deputy chair of the MILF’s information committee, said, “We hope the United Nations will not try us in absentia and provide us an avenue to air our side and present evidence that the government is the one killing our children.”
The Mindanao conflict ensued last month when the government canceled a land deal with MILF. It escalated after August 4th, when the Supreme Court entered a temporary restraining order against the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain. The Memorandum aimed to formally open negotiations between the government and MILF to end the four decade conflict and expand MILF territory. Angered by the aborted agreement, MILF attacked multiple towns and villages in Muslim Mindanao, which has affected more than half a million people.
Peace negotiations have ceased between the government and MILF and the government peace panel has since been dissolved.
For more information, please see:
ABS CBN News – Humanitarian Situation Still “Grim” in Mindanao Conflict Areas– 17 September 2008
Amnesty International – Mindanao Citizens Under Threat From MILF Units and Militias – 22 August 2008
Inquirer.net – MILF Welcomes Gov’t Plan to Bring Child Warrior Issue to UN – 20 September 2008
Mindanao Examiner – Philippine Military Accused MILF of Using Child Soldiers in Mindanao – 12 September 2008
