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Situation Worsens in Philippines

DW StaffAugust 10, 2007

Fighting between government troops and Islamic militants in the southern Philippines has left at least 58 people dead and forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes. The violence follows clashes between the army and Abu Sayyaf rebels and the separatist guerrillas on the southern island of Jolo.

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A nurse attends to a wounded soldier at a military hospital
A nurse attends to a wounded soldier at a military hospitalImage: AP

This week brought some of the heaviest fighting the country’s restive south had seen in the last three years. At least 26 soldiers have lost their lives, while 17 others were wounded in clashes between troops and Muslim separatists.

An injured soldier said that "the clashes started and five troops, including the train driver, were injured." He added that they had "faced them alone, since they were the advanced party".

MNLF involvement

According to the Philippine military, cadres from a separatist group called Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) were involved in the latest incidents on Jolo Island. The Muslim rebel group signed a peace deal with the largely Catholic central government in 1996 and there has been relative calm since then.

But Marites Vitug, an expert on southern Philippines affairs, explained why some members of the group might have raised arms again:

"My understanding is that they have not been disarmed, and there was a misunderstanding between the army and the rebels. There was an accidental killing of one MNLF leader -- and therefore the fighting escalated."

Clashes with MILF

At the same time, the government is trying to deal with another group -- the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), based on the nearby island of Basilan.

The MILF is known for having connections with the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group and has been blamed for the killing of at least 14 marines last month.

The Philippine military said it would step up its offensives against the Muslim rebels and would send two extra battalions to the remote southern island of Jolo.

But Vitug didn't think extra troops were the solution: "I think what we really need is a mediating team. Just adding more troops won’t help the situation. We need someone who can talk to the MNLF and the troops."

As the situation continues to worsen in the southern Philippines, many thousands have fled their homes, fearing they could get trapped in the fighting.