Nusantara Initiative for Justice and Peace calls on the Government of the Republic of Philippines (GRP) to call off its military offensive in Mindanao and to restart peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to bring to an end the violence and killings of innocent civilians that erupted recently and is still continuing. The Armed Forces of Philippines (AFP) have been bombing and rocketing Moro villages which, according to human rights observers, has caused rising civilian casualties. The military action is claimed to be in response to the killing of Christian civilians in the South which has been condemned by the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and Bangsamoro organisations. Bombing Moro villages and killing civilians is a barbaric response to the violent acts of criminals. What is needed is a thorough and professional police investigation to apprehend the criminals, prosecute and punish them. MILF has denied responsibility for the criminal acts and called on the GRP to carry out an independent investigation to identify the perpetrators of the heinous crimes and to punish them. This shows MILF’s sincerity in seeking a peaceful resolution to the historic conflict between the Bangsamoro and the GRP.
MILITARY ATTACKS ON MORO VILLAGES
Nusantara Initiative for Justice and Peace calls on the Government of the Republic of Philippines (GRP) to call off its military offensive in Mindanao and to restart peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to bring to an end the violence and killings of innocent civilians that erupted recently and is still continuing.