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Monday, July 11, 2005
Moro rebels not in favor of Mindanao republic
By Lino dela Cruz
Iligan correspondent
MARAWI CITY -- The proponents of a "Mindanao Republic" are reportedly set to launch on July 12 a movement to help them achieve their goal, but without, it would seem, the support of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Mohaqer Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator in talks with the government, said in a statement posted Monday at their website luwaran.com that "we cannot endorse anything that we are not party to and whose objectives do not have a clear program for the Bangsamoro people."
The MILF support is not forthcoming even if Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, reportedly one of the prime movers of the proposal, planned to name the separate state the Bangsamoro Republic.
Proponents and supporters of the Mindanao Republic movement, including Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Manuel Emano, are being accused of staging this political ploy to draw heat from the current political turmoil in Manila.
The turmoil was triggered by the release of audio recordings of wiretapped conversations allegedly between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Commission on Election (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano to rig the 2004 presidential polls.
Amid mounting calls for the President to resign, Mayor Duterte threatened to create a Mindanao Republic if Arroyo is removed from office through unconstitutional means.
The supposed launching of the Mindanao Republic on July 12, this year, is set to coincide with President Arroyo's scheduled State of the Nation Address.
The MILF said it is not known where this launching will take place. "We do not know whether it will be in the jungles of Mindanao or in Manila."
Almost four decades ago, a radio station (which later became Radio Mindanao Network) owner, Reuben Canoy of Cagayan de Oro City, first broached the idea of a separate republic for Mindanao, the Philippines second largest island.
However, at that time, very few people supported his idea.
The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), a Muslim group, fought the government for self-determination for at least three decades but later entered into a peace agreement that paved the way for the creation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
A breakaway group, the MILF, continued the fight for self-rule but this time asking for an Independent Islamic State.
The government and the MILF are currently talking peace and both parties are optimistic this will lead to a final peace agreement.
(July 11, 2005 issue)
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