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WORLD NEWS Saturday 22 June 2024

Philippines won’t invoke mutual defense treaty with U.S. after

Chinese confrontation at disputed shoal

By JIM GOMEZ “That has not been con- Madre, has occupied Sec-
Associated Press sidered in our discussions,” ond Thomas Shoal since
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — presidential assistant on 1999 but China later de-
The Philippines said Friday maritime concerns Andres ployed coast guard, navy
it has no plan to invoke its Centino said when asked and suspected militia ships
mutual defense treaty with if the Philippines was con- in a territorial standoff that
the United States after the sidering activating its treaty has become increasingly
Chinese coast guard re- with the U.S. volatile.
portedly rammed, board- Executive Secretary Lucas During the hourslong con-
ed and used machetes Bersamin said the govern- frontation at the shoal on
and axes to damage two ment did not consider the Monday, Chinese person-
Philippine navy boats in a Chinese coast guard con- nel on board more than
chaotic faceoff that injured frontation an armed attack eight motorboats report-
Filipino navy personnel at a as stated in the mutual de- edly rammed and then
disputed shoal in the South fense treaty with the U.S. boarded the two Philip-
China Sea. “This was probably a mis- pine navy inflatable boats
President Ferdinand Mar- understanding or an acci- to prevent Filipino navy
cos Jr.’s key advisers made dent. We’re not yet ready personnel from transferring
the remarks in a televised to classify this as an armed food and other supplies, in-
news conference, squelch- attack,” Bersamin said. cluding firearms, to the Phil-
ing speculation that Manila “We saw bolo, axe, nothing ippine ship outpost.
might consider invoking beyond that.” After a scuffle and re-
the 1951 treaty to secure In this handout photo provided by Armed Forces of the In what critics may see as a peated collisions, the Chi-
U.S. military help after Mon- Philippines, Chinese Coast Guard hold knives and machetes as concession to China, Bersa- nese reportedly seized the
day’s confrontation at Sec- they approach Philippine troops on a resupply mission in the min said Marcos approved boats and damaged them
ond Thomas Shoal, where Second Thomas Shoal at the disputed South China Sea on June a recommendation for the with machetes, knives and
the Chinese coast guard 17, 2024. government to publicize hammers. They also seized
also seized Philippine navy Associated Press the schedule when navy eight M4 rifles which were
rifles. The Philippine military Philippines, Vietnam, Ma- ton has repeatedly warned personnel are deployed to packed in cases and oth-
chief condemned the in- laysia, Brunei and Taiwan, that it’s obligated to help transport food, water and er supplies and wounded
cident, likening it to an act have long been seen as defend the Philippines, its other supplies to the Philip- a number of Filipino navy
of piracy, and demanded an Asian flashpoint that oldest treaty ally in Asia, pines’ territorial outpost in personnel, including one
that China return the rifles could pit the U.S. against if Filipino forces, ships and the shoal. A small Philippine who lost his right thumb,
and pay for the damage. China if the high seas con- aircraft come under an navy contingent aboard a two Philippine security of-
The territorial disputes, frontations escalate into an armed attack, including in long-grounded dilapidat- ficials told The Associated
which involve China, the armed conflict. Washing- the South China Sea. ed warship, the BRP Sierra Press on Tuesday.q

International court unseals arrest warrant for Mali suspect accused

of crimes in Timbuktu in 2012

By MIKE CORDER were not taking part in hos- in Mali who fell victim to regime in Timbuktu after al- a key member of Ansar
Associated Press tilities were executed, in- crimes that were commit- Qaida-linked rebels over- Dine, an Islamic extremist
THE HAGUE, Netherlands cluding some who had sur- ted since 2012,” when Ma- ran the historic Malian des- group linked to al-Qaida
(AP) — The International rendered and others who lian authorities asked the ert city in 2012. that held p ower in northern
Criminal Court unsealed were in the base’s hospital, court to intervene. Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Mali at the time. The judg-
an arrest warrant Friday for according to the French- “Today represents a further Ag Mohamed Ag Mah- ment in his trial is scheduled
a Malian accused of war language warrant. step forward in demonstrat- moud is accused of being for June 26.q
crimes and crimes against The court said in a state- ing that under international
humanity in the desert city ment that there are “rea- humanitarian law and the
of Timbuktu in 2012-13, sonable grounds to believe Rome Statute, the lives of
where he is suspected of that he would be the un- all individuals have equal
leading an al-Qaida-linked disputed leader” of Ansar value and are deserving
Islamic extremist group. Dine, the extremist group of equal protection,” the
The warrant for Iyad Ag which held power in north- prosecution office added.
Ghaly, also known as Abou ern Mali at the time. The Rome Statute is the
Fadl, was originally issued It was not immediately court’s founding treaty.
under seal in 2017. It charg- clear why prosecutors The prosecution office de-
es him with crimes includ- asked for the warrant to be clined to comment on Gh-
ing murder, rape, sexual unsealed now. aly’s whereabouts.
slavery and persecution of In a written statement, the The announcement came
women and girls on gender court’s prosecution office days before the court is
grounds. welcomed the unsealing scheduled to deliver its
It covers crimes in Timbuktu and said the warrant for verdict in the trial of an al-
and an attack on a military Ghaly “reflects the con- leged Islamic extremist who Fighters from Islamist group Ansar Dine stand guard in Timbuktu,
base during which more tinued efforts of the Office was tried on charges that Mali, Aug. 31, 2012, as they prepare to publicly lash a member
than 40 Malian soldiers who to deliver justice for those he policed a brutal Islamic of the Islamic Police found guilty of adultery.
Associated Press