Philippines captures 'rebel base' on Mindanao

by CynicalPatriot | June 6, 2009 at 08:37 am

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Troops in the Philippines have seized a separatist camp and killed 30 rebels on Mindanao island, the military says.

The army said its soldiers found large caches of weapons and ammunition when they entered the base at the end of days of fighting.

However, the rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are reported to have denied the military's claims.

Hundreds have died and many thousands have been displaced on Mindanao since peace talks foundered in August 2008.

There has long been a US State Department advisory against Americans Traveling to the Philippines in general and the Islands of Mindanao and the Zulu Atoll in particular.

The division between the government and the insurgency lies largely along religious devisions. Since the arrival of Magellin and during the 200 year rule of the Spanish, the Philippines is overwhelmingly Catholic/Christian.

Islam spread eastward out of the middle east, into India, down the southeast asia peninsula and island hopped its way towards the philippines. Its presence in the southern islands of the Phils represents the current height of Islam's geographic spread in that area.

The rebel's demands center largely on creating a seperatist government in areas that are predominately Muslim.

Without, making any judgments as to the legitimacy of their complaints, hopefully this victory will be the beginning of bringing peace and relief to this long embattled area of the Philippines.

Respectfully,

Don Mashak
The Cynical Patriot