IMAGE OF THE DAY

Hands for peace. After the peace agreement with the Philippine government in Sept. 1996, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chairman Nur Misuari met with his comrades in Taluksangay. The meeting was attended by former Zamboanga City Mayor Vitaliano Agan and an official from the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). (HADER GLANG)

Women urge gov't to free Misuari

More than 100 women from all over Mindanao and Sulu have called the Philippine government to free MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari who has been jailed for four years on rebellion charges.

“He is our legitimate leader and he can help in the peace process,” said Naira Moner, officer of the Mothers for Peace, who attended the Mindanao Women's Peace Summit at the Waterfront Insular Hotel recently.

Misuari has been temporarily released from detention to undergo medical treatment at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Manila with his co-accused and spiritual adviser Ustadz Abdul Haris Usman.

Mindanao women from academe, government agencies, peace advocacy groups, tribal groups, youth organizations, and people's organizations attended the peace summit to air their proposals for the ongoing peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“We need to review the 1996 GRP-MNLF Peace Accord before going into another peace pact (GRP-MILF),” expressed Atty. Padoman G. Paparo, one of the women leaders from Marawi City.

“Misuari, we believe, can do something for the ongoing peace negotiation between the MILF and the government.” She added that “the MNLF Chairman still has strong influence over the Bangsamoro People.”

The summit was attended by Chief Negotiator Sec. Silveste Afable III representing the government, Atty. Lanang Ali of the MILF negotiating team, and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process chief Sec. Jesus Dureza. Australian Ambassador Tony Hely and Swedish Ambassador Annika Markovic also graced the affair.

The Mindanao Women’s Peace Summit was organized by the Mindanao Commission on Women.(Mother's for Peace)