corniche.net

October 30, 2009 – Residents of Barangay Limbu Upas, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan were alarmed when they discovered improvised landmine buried near a house owned by certain Musa early morning yesterday.

The report also reached Haji Hassan Namla, the Political Officer of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Isabela City, Basilan, who immediately informed the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH).

Haji Namla, who is also a Liaison Officer of the MILF CCCH, said the improvised landmine was discovered when Musa and his son were cleaning their backyard.

Accordingly, the son first saw a plastic bag half-buried few meters away from their house and as he got suspicious, he told his father. Musa found out that the plastic bag contained dozens of ammunitions of M16 firearm. However, Musa was not sure if the landmine also contained improvised bomb but he described its size as big as his leg.     

According to the information gathered by Namla and Abbas Salung, members of the MILF CCCH, the powerful improvised landmine is a victim-detonated and pressure-detonated device.

They recalled that a similar explosive device exploded during the encounter between the MILF forces and the Philippine Marines in the same barangay which destroyed a house.   

Residents alleged that the landmine was left behind by the elements of the Philippine Marines after a firefight purposely to inflict casualties indiscriminately.  

Limbu Upas is a peaceful community lived-in by thousands of civilians, non-combatants and MILF people.

The Philippine government CCCH was also informed accordingly of the reported discovery of the improvised landmine. They (gov’t CCCH) asked the MILF CCCH to tapped Namla, Salung and other local ceasefire mechanisms in the area to work with authorities for the safe disposal of the reported landmine.

Using of landmines by either government or MILF forces constitute serious violation of the ceasefire accord between the two parties. It also violates the Ottawa Treaty, Geneva Conventions and human rights in general.

Eid Kabalu, the spokesperson of the MILF, stressed that adherence by concerned parties to the international humanitarian laws and human rights is imperative.

Kabalu said that the MILF ,being a non-state actor (NSA) signatory to a Deed of Commitment to Ban Landmines, is duty-bound and committed to work and campaign against the use of prohibited landmines.

“We will report this case to the Geneva Call in Switzerland pursuant to the MILF’s Deed of Commitment with the Geneva Call for appropriate actions,” Kabalu assured.