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Saturday, February 18, 2006
Misuari retakes MNLF top post
THE Moro National Liberation Front has elected former rebel leader Nur Misuari as its new chairman after dissolving the Council of 15 that ousted the ex-MNLF chieftain in 2001.
Muslimen Sema, the secretary general of the MNLF, said efforts are now underway to reorganize the former rebel group that signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996.
"Nur Misuari is indispensable in the search for peace in Mindanao and it is also the clamor of the Muslim people that Nur Misuari lead the MNLF again," Sema, also the mayor of Cotabato City, said.
The Council of 15 ousted Misuari, then governor of the four-province Muslim autonomous region, in April 2001 after accusing him of failing to uplift the poor condition of many Muslims in Mindanao, and for lack of confidence.
Sema was among those who ousted Misuari along with senior MNLF leaders led by Parouk Hussin, Yusop Jikiri, Hatimil Hassan, Abdul Sahrin, Alfatah Abubakar, Uttoh Salem and Manda Amilhamsa, and seven other state chairmen.
But he defended Misuari's ouster as MNLF chairman, saying: "The burden had its toll on Nur Misuari at that time because of his busy governance in the Muslim autonomous region."
Despite his ouster, Sema's group made Misuari as chairman emeritus of the MNLF.
Sema said the MNLF central committee agreed to dissolve the Council of 15 and let Misuari take over again and work for the unification of tens of thousands of members across the southern Philippines.
He said the unification of all MNLF factions was made possible because of the continued suffering of the Muslims in Mindanao and that the 1996 peace accord is a farce.
"All MNLF elements are one in saying that the implementation of the 1996 peace agreement is a farce and far from what was envisioned of it. It is now up to government whether to recognize the new MNLF and work together to bring peace and harmony, and development in Mindanao. We will work gradually again for peace and development," he said.
Sema said the MNLF would also consult the influential Organization of Islamic Conference, in which the former separatist rebel group is a permanent observer, about their decision.
"The first thing we will do now is to put the MNLF as one organization and remove all the problems that beset the MNLF organization, and get our acts together and search for peace. We decided finally to bring back the MNLF again as one organization under one leadership," he said.
The decision to bring back Misuari was the result of a series of meetings and consultation since 2004 with MNLF leaders and members and other organizations that split with the MNLF, including the Sabah-based Islamic Command Council and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The MNLF has repeatedly appealed to President Arroyo to free Misuari who is facing rebellion charges after a failed uprising in Jolo island in 2001.
The 65-year-old Misuari is currently undergoing a battery of medical examination and treatment at the St. Luke's hospital in Quezon City after complaining of chest pains. A court granted Misuari 10-day medical pass together with his close associate Abuhari Usman on January 24 and extended this because of their condition.
"His doctors say more tests are needed to determine his illness, but Brother Nur is doing fine and is happy that the government allowed his to go to hospital," Misuari's close aide Jamasali Abrurahman said.
Misuari has been asking the government since last year to grant him temporary freedom so he can have a complete medical examination and treatment. He had complained of occasional pain in his abdomen and chest, and erratic blood pressure. Misuari was also asking the Department of Justice to bring his trial to Mindanao, instead of holding him in Laguna.
He was almost granted temporary liberty last year, but other Misuari aides who are also detained want to take a mass leave for medical treatment along with the former rebel chieftain.
Other senior MNLF leaders in Mindanao have asked the President to permanently free Misuari, saying he had suffered long enough and incarcerated without due process.
Even the MILF, the country's largest separatist rebel group negotiating peace with Manila, sought Misuari's unconditional release.
Speaker Hatimil Hassan, of the Muslim autonomous region, also appealed to President Arroyo to free Misuari for humanitarian reasons, adding the former rebel leader can help in the government's peace process and reconcile the Muslims in Mindanao.
State prosecutors said the continued incarceration of Misuari's group is justified because the hearing on their petition for bail is still pending in court, but under Philippine penal law, rebellion is considered a heinous crime.
The MNLF, under Misuari, signed a peace agreement with the government in September 1996, ending almost three decades of bloody fighting in the south. He later became governor of the four-province Muslim autonomous region, but many MNLF members were not satisfied with the accord and accused the government of failing to provide them livelihood and improve their standard of living.
Misuari later accused the government of reneging on its promise to help develop war-torn areas in Mindanao and led a failed rebellion in Jolo island that coincided with the planned elections in the autonomous region that would eventually put him out of the race.
The fighting on the island left dozens of people dead and wounded and spread to Zamboanga City where Misuari's loyal soldiers held hostage more than 100 people, triggering three days of fierce fighting that killed many rebels and civilians. Misuari then fled to Sabah, but was arrested and deported to the Philippines and jailed.
Last month, the government also allowed Misuari to attend prayers during the Eid'l Adha celebration in the Blue Mosque in Taguig City after the Makati Regional Trial Court gave him permission. (Al Jacinto)
(February 18, 2006 issue)
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