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MNLF Declares Independence In Mindanao
by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA, May 4 (IslamOnline) - In a surprise move, the governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao, Nur Misuari, on Friday declared the independence of the Moroland, calling the new country, the Moro Republic in Southern Mindanao.
The Philippines government confirmed the announcement made by Misuari through Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes. He said he received a copy of the declaration.
Reyes said this could be a real threat, but did not say what Manila intended to do in the matter. "It could be just plain posturing," he said, adding that he is still waiting for an explanation from Misuari.
Misuari, leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), said he would be the President of the region, which was declared Autonomous in the mid 1990s. Misuari said the resolution passed by his movement approving the declaration of independence was the first step to the "History of the Bangsamoro people in the contemporary world."
He invited the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to join the MNLF in this independence move saying, "There is no more reason that we cannot be united."
The MILF could not be reached for comment. Its press spokesman, Eid Kabalu, was not available regarding the sudden development.
The MILF is currently negotiating peace with the Arroyo administration.
Nur Misuari has taken the MILF and the Philippines government by surprise declaring the "Bangsamoro Republik" while the MILF and government are seriously engaging in peace talks that could begin any time this month.
Two thousand MNLF delegates had urged the leadership of the movement to drop its bid for complete autonomy and struggle for independence instead. Misuari said while his movement opted for autonomy of the region, the MILF pressed for independence.
According to observers in the region, the MNLF made the declaration ahead of a tripartite meeting to be held soon between the MNLF, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Philippine government.
A few months ago, the MNLF warned the government that it would issue a unilateral declaration of independence if it failed to implement the planned development programs agreed upon in the wake of the creation of the autonomous region.
It also said at the time that then president Joseph Estrada was not taking Autonomy in Mindanao seriously, and that the MNLF would take steps to ensure that the Bangsamoros were not taken for a ride.
The government and the MNLF signed the agreement for the autonomous region on September 2, l996. Five years later, the situation in Mindanao has worsened, leading to the current state of chaos.
Sources said the two-day MNLF congress that decided on the bid for independence had urged leaders of the group to present a petition for de-colonization to the United Nations.
The MNLF states that it does not risk being pursued for sedition since the U.N. Charter guarantees the right of self-determination for people.
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