MNLF representatives meet with MILF leaders in Sultan Kudarat

MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari (top photo) and MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim (below). (ZS Files)

IN a united effort, through the coordination by the two sister organizations, representatives of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under the faction of Prof. Nur Misuari on Saturday met with leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

The MNLF representatives, led by Sharif Zain Jali, chairman of the MNLF Bangsamoro People’s Congress, and the MILF counterparts, led by Ghazali Jaafar, deputy chairman for political affairs, discussed bilateral issues confronting their organizations.

Luwaran, the official website of the MILF, reported that the meeting was very frank, direct, and in a brotherly atmosphere. “It was a reunion of two brothers”, the report said, quoting one MILF leader, who refused to be identified. It said that the visitors (MNLF) outnumbered the host (MILF).

Jali described the meeting as a “revisit of the past”, because the two Fronts have had several meetings with their top leadership in attendance including Misuari and the late Salamat Hashim, according to the report posted at Luwaran.com.

The senior MNLF official recalled that the two Fronts have already created the Bangsamoro Coordinating Council (BCC), which coordinates and facilitates their activities on the basis of the terms they have earlier agreed several years back, the report added.

It also said on the need for close coordination or cooperation, the MILF also signed with the MNLF-Committee of 15, the Bangsamoro Solidarity Conference (BSC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2002.

ARMM Speaker, Hatimil Hassan, then head of the group, signed for the group, while Murad for the MILF. Among other important agenda of the Saturday dialogue, the two groups zeroed in on the need for the immediate, unconditional furlough of detained MNLF leader Misuari.

The MILF had stated in clear terms its position on Misuari, to wit: 1) As Muslim, we want him to be freed as soon as possible; 2) We still recognize him as one of the leaders of the Bangsamoro people despite being head of the MNLF; and 3) The MILF believes the release of Misuari will advance the search for peace and progress in Mindanao.

The MILF also disclosed that it is very consistent with this policy that on several occasions it called upon the government to release Misuari immediately and without preconditions. It also set the record straight, saying that the release or not to release Misuari is the sole power of the government, which one MILF leader described as in the “fingertip of the government."

The MILF stated that the proposed meeting between Misuari and Al Haj Murad Ebrahim Murad, which is very important, should preferably take place after the former is released from detention so that any agreement reached will not be tainted with any unsavory color since he is still under detention, the report said. (ZS)