Misuari to be freed soon?

Nur Misuari

FORMER governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Nur Misuari will be freed from detention in four days from now, a reliable source from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which speaks on condition of anonymity, said on Thursday.

Two weeks ago, the jailed Moro National Liberation Front chairman, was granted temporary freedom to be with his fellow Muslims during the Eid’l Adha prayers at the Blue Mosque at Maharlika village in Taguig, Rizal, which marked the culmination of the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Reporters quoted him as saying: "We don’t want hypocritical peace anymore. We want a real and genuine peace. If the government and the MILF can give that meaningful, permanent and durable peace in Mindanao, they have our support.”

The source also disclosed that Misuari’s liberty is part of a bigger bargain between the MNLF and the Arroyo administration to involve the former in the search for comprehensive peace settlement in Mindanao.

The court, after hearing the rebellion charges against Misuari, will decide in his favor; meaning, he will not be found guilty of these charges.

However, the deal mainly involved the MNLF-Misuari, because only this group among the various factions of the Front, which still has followers fighting the government. The rest are already in the mainstream society and many are working in the government.

“The government wants this faction to be on the surface especially the military commanders like Ustadz Habier Malik and Julhambrie Misuari,” one observer disclosed, adding that through this scheme “monitoring their activities is easy”.

As this developed, another source revealed that all the factions of the MNLF are poised to reunite again with Misuari still to be recognized as the overall leader of the group.

Asked to comment on this turn of event, Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat, said, “This is a welcome development.”
“We hope Misuari will emerge a better man this time after suffering from the ordeal from his tormentors.” “He is at the last edge of his life and he deserved to be freed on humanitarian ground.” “He is still one of the leaders of our people.” (ZS)