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Moro Leader Condemns Opportunists Surrendering To Government
by Kazi Mahmood
KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (IslamOnline) - Aleem Abdulazis Mimbantas, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) vice chairman for Internal Affairs, lashed out on Friday at those who are surrendering to Manila.
The communication sent to IslamOnline with some delays, said that Mimbantas reacted angrily to a group of more than 500 Maranaw from Tamparan, Lanao del Sur, who surrendered to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
"They are nothing but simple opportunists!" Mimbantas said.
Last week, Arroyo arrived at the airport in Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao where she immediately proceeded to Tamparan, Lanao del Sur for the surrender ceremony.
Mimbantas said these surrenderers are all "fake" MILF members whose records could not be found either from the official roster of Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) 3rd Field Division or from the Internal Security Forces (ISF) of which I am the head, he explained.
"The truth is that representatives of the group has made representation with my office years back expressing their desire to join the ISF but I politely told them that there are certain processes which has to be complied before an individual become full pledge member of the MILF," he recalled.
"Since then I initiated a background check on the group of applicants and it turned out that it was the same group who are really responsible on the countless cattle rustling cases in the area, the perennial problem extortion and robbery-hold up committed along Narciso Ramos highway and other forms of lawlessness and criminalities," Mimbantas revealed.
"In short, there was an attempt from the group to apply for membership with the ISF and therefore, for all intent and purposes, they are not yet members of the MILF," he clarified.
Nonetheless, the group's surrender to the government is still a blessing in disguise as it could have been a different story should the act had been done after consummation of their application of membership, Mimbantas admitted.
Meanwhile, the MILF Central Committee through Legal Counsel Attorney Lanang Ali yesterday forwarded its official response to the government's letter dated February 22, 2001, calling for the resumption of peace talks.
With this development, it is expected that the talks would move forward now that the MILF responded positively on the proposed resumption of negotiations.
The ball is now in the hands of the government, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu commented.
A Mindanao wide consultation is being carried out upon a directive from the Central Committee headed by MILF Chairman Salamat Hashim.
The purpose of the consultation is to assist in the selection of members of the MILF Peace Panel in anticipation to the proposed resumption of stalled peace negotiations.
Attorney Ali revealed the information to a news agency in Cotabato. He said this is another positive step taken by the MILF leadership after responding favorably to Manila's second communication.
In that particular communication, Arroyo's Peace Panel Chairman Jesus Dureza formally conveyed to Hashim the government's sincerity in continuing peace talks in order to find a peaceful political and lasting solution to the Mindanao conflict.
Dureza reiterated the government's invitation for Hashim to send his representatives to an exploratory meeting with governmental representatives, and added that the purpose of the meeting was to lay the groundwork for the proposed reactivation of peace negotiations.
It was Ali in a letter-response dated March 12, 2001, upon authority extended to him by the MILF Central Committee, who officially informed Manila on the decision made by the leadership.
At the same time, he brought to the government's attention some of the MILF's major concerns, such as: mediation by a neutral country during the peace talks; the government's commitment to honor, respect, and implement all past agreements; and holding of the peace talks outside the Philippines.
On August 18, the MILF disbanded its own peace panel when Hashim issued a memorandum recalling the authority of the panel, including the different Committees created in support of the Panel.
Since then, the official bridge between the two parties had been virtually cut off for several months and gradually revived for the succeeding months culminated on the so-called clarification meeting held in Manila on January 3.
Arroyo has acknowledged receipt of the MILF letter-response during a brief press conference at Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, where she expressed her satisfaction over the MILF position where the Front indicated her readiness to negotiate.
Arroyo was in Awang there to personally oversee various socio-economic programs intended to ease the living conditions of the people affected by last year's "all-out war" policy implemented by then former president Joseph Estrada.
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