24 October 2011
MEDIA RELEASE – British Embassy, Manila
British Ambassador alarmed by recent attacks in Mindanao
British Ambassador Stephen Lillie today expressed serious concern about the recent spate of ambushes in the south of the Philippines. But he added his voice to those supporting President Aquino’s rejection of an “all-out war policy” against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, following last week’s violent attacks in Basilan and Zamboanga Sibugay.
“I am seriously concerned by the reports of ambushes by MILF members in different parts of Mindanao over the past week. But meeting violence with violence will not solve the conflict in the southern Philippines. On the contrary, it is only likely to lead to a downward spiral of killing, with untold misery and suffering for innocent civilians. The last time violence broke out on a wide scale, some 600,000 people were forced to flee their homes. The people of the southern Philippines deserve better than that”, said Ambassador Lillie.
He added: “I express my sincerest condolences towards the families and comrades of the soldiers killed last week. Their grief is heart-felt and understandable, and so is the anger of many Filipinos. But I firmly believe that the President is right to reject calls for all-out war. At the end of the day, the way forward must be via the negotiating table and the continuation of peace talks”. He added however that for this to happen, the violence must stop.
Ambassador Lillie said that the President’s refusal to launch full-scale military action demonstrated his commitment to the road of peace. He said the onus was now on the MILF leadership to show its hand. “I think that the MILF need to reassure public and political opinion that they too remain committed. The current spate of ambushes must stop”. He said it was understandable given last week’s events, if ordinary voters were now more sceptical about the MILF’s position.
The United Kingdom is one of four governments in the International Contact Group (ICG) supporting the GPH-MILF peace talks. Ambassador Lillie said that as an ICG member the UK remained ready to assist the peace process in whatever way the two parties thought would be most helpful. “Just in the past few weeks, we have brought one of our former Ministers responsible for the Northern Ireland Peace Process to the Philippines to share best practices in conflict resolution, and further similar exchanges are planned”. Ambassador Lillie said that he had been struck by the level of interest shown in such visits by legislators, officials and civil society. “Northern Ireland shows that peaceful resolution of armed conflict is possible. I believe that that is what most Filipinos also want to see”, he added.
-ENDS-
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Source: British Embassy, Manila, Oct. 24, 2011
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