Friday, July 06, 2007 Misuari allowed to attend Jeddah peace talks
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) did not object to the request of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) honorary chairman and former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) governor Nur Misuari to be allowed to leave detention to attend the tri-partite talks between the government, MNLF, and Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
"The prosecution therefore does not object to the instant motion for leave filed by the accused to allow him to temporarily leave his place of detention in New Manila, Quezon City for the purpose of attending the scheduled tripartite meeting on July 17 to 19, 2007 in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," said the DOJ's reply to Misuari's request filed at the sala of Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 59 Judge Winlove Dumayas.
State Prosecutor Romeo Senson said the department has also secured the approval of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp) and the Cabinet Cluster E dealing with internal security, on the matter.
Misuari is under house arrest in New Manila since early last year after complaining of several ailments while being detained at the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) training facility at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa Laguna.
The DOJ however said the government and the accused should submit a "sovereign guaranty" from Saudi Arabia.
Misuari earlier filed a manifestation saying he and co-accused Istadz Abuiharis Usman "shall consider subject to the ultimate authority of the court."
In his request filed last June 29, Misuari asked to be allowed to travel with his spiritual adviser and Usman on July 8 or 9 to attend the July 10 to 15 tripartite talks in Jeddah.
Misuari said he was an "indispensable party to the tripartite meeting, or at the very least, his personal attendance will be conducive to a fruitful outcome" since he is the acknowledged leader of the MNLF since its founding in the 1970's.
The OIC has acknowledged Misuari as the sole representative of the Muslims in Mindanao by having the MNLF an "observer status" in the organization despite the intense lobbying of the GRP and even the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to be named as an observer.
Although it did not pose any objection to the request, the DOJ said Misuari "only be allowed to leave the country on July 16 and not on July 8 as requested, that sufficient security shall be provided by the PNP-SAF during the travel from the place of detention to the airport as well as the travel itself and that the travel shall be solely for the purpose of attending the meeting from July 17 to 19 and not for any other political purposes.
The DOJ also said Misuari's side-trip to Mecca should be done within the scheduled dates and prior to their return to the country "which is not later than the 21st of July."
It also mandated Misuari's counsel, Arthur Lim, to ensure compliance with whatever the court orders. (AH/Sunnex)
