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Philippines: MNLF To Present Independence Declaration At OIC
by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA (IslamOnline) - The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) intends to present a document containing the declaration of Independence of the Mindanao region during the ongoing Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting in Qatar.
Chairman Nur Misuari said the OIC would be asked to support the call for independence if the Philippine government fails to immediately implement the long-delayed provisions of the 1986 peace agreement.
Misuari left for Qatar last week to prepare for the OIC leaders’ summit, where the MNLF enjoys an observer status. Ministerial level meetings are scheduled from November 12th to 16th. The OIC leaders’ summit takes place November 12th to 14th.
MNLF legal adviser Macapanton Abbas Jr., who flew to Qatar with Misuari, said the declaration calls for the adoption of a federal and parliamentary system of government, equal participation of Mindanaoans in all three branches of government, a halt to the government’s policy of total war in the island and, finally, the dismissal of corrupt national government officials assigned to the territory.
In opposition to the MNLF, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of Salamat Hashim accused MNLF leader Misuari of being corrupt and of having sold out the struggle of the Moro people.
Observers in the Philippines say the MNLF is attempting its last ditch effort to sideline the MILF and force the OIC to deal with it alone. They say the MNLF is not prepared to share the powers it is enjoying in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the MILF, desiring that they do not want the OIC to recognize the MILF altogether.
The OIC recently said it might recognize the MILF and give it observer status within the OIC itself.
OIC delegates visiting the Philippines recently said they would help restart the stalled peace talks between the government of the Philippines and the MILF. The 56-member international group wrapped up a fact-finding mission to Mindanao recently.
Several Muslim and Christian Mindanao leaders, representing business, politics, and professionals, have endorsed the declaration of independence of the MNLF, which also calls for the “effective and just participation of all Mindanaoans in all aspects of national governance in the Philippines,” Abbas added.
The declaration was signed Tuesday at a caucus of key Mindanao leaders led by former immigration commissioner Homobono Adaza of Cagayan de Oro City; former Armed Forces chief, Ret. Gen. Fortunato Abat, also vice president of the Mindanao Philippine Constitutional Association; and Sultan Alawaddin Bandon of the Royal Sultanate of Tawi-Tawi.
Meanwhile, the central committee of the MNLF said it had conferred upon Misuari, who is also governor of the ARMM, “blanket authority” during the OIC summit.
In a two-day national leadership meeting at Camp Ibrahim Sema, Maguindanao last November 7th and 8th, top-ranking leaders of the MNLF gave Misuari authority to decide on the stance the organization is to take in the wake of the political crisis gripping the country.
“The MNLF is in a crucial situation now. The present political crisis in the country can affect greatly the implementation of the peace agreement,” MNLF secretary-general and Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema said.
During the meeting, MNLF leaders also “reaffirmed their loyalty, support, commitment and solidarity with Misuari as leader of the Bangsamoro, being the chairman of the MNLF and recognized as the sole and legitimate representative of the Bangsamoro people to the OIC.”
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