Misuari: We're not bound by GRP-MILF agreement

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari raises fist as he performs takbir (a proclamation of the greatness of Allah) during his visit in Barangay Sta. Barbara, one of the Muslim-dominated villages in Zamboanga City. Photo/Caption Hader Glang

"I can not comment on that because we're not bound by the agreement or any agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. We are not concern and we're not bound. All their agreements are not binding on us."

This was the reply of Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari when asked to comment on the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Bangsamoro homeland accord between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Misuari visited the city Wednesday. He has been journeying across Mindanao for the past thirty-three days to call for unity and solidarity as well as to extend his gratitude to the people for their prayers and for his release from detention.

"I'm under obligation to call on our people for unity and solidarity because that was the latest resolution of the 35th ICFM of OIC in Uganda, which asked me to move around to call on the people to unite and to close rank for peace," he told reporters.

As a matter of fact, Misuari said no less than Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno with the approval from President Arroyo has requested him to move around to promote peace in Mindanao.

Apart from that, he said he came around also to help and enjoin his people in the MNLF – commanders and non-commanders alike – to strengthen their posture in preparation for the implementation of the agreement signed in Jakarta.

The Jakarta agreement calls for the creation of "internal security forces" in collaboration with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to ensure peace throughout Mindanao, including Camiguin, Palawan and all parts in the ARMM.

"All of us will work together. I'm asking my brothers and sisters to prepare about 100,000 to 120,000 strong for the implementation of internal security forces," Misuari added.

When asked if he was reconciling with Mayor Celso Lobregat, he replied: "We'll he's not a foe of mine. The mother (the late Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat) was a good friend of mine and everybody of Zamboaga City is a friend of mine."

Assuring Mayor Lobregat that he’ll help make the city a peaceful place, he called on Zamboangueños to unite and join together for the sake of peace. "Let us make the city of Zamboanga a peaceful city for all of us and for our children."

Lobregat met with Misuari and they held a closed-door meeting at Garden Orchid hotel after the MNLF chairman prayed and talked with hundreds of supporters in the mosque at Barangay Sta. Barbara.

Several streamers welcoming the Moro leader were displayed in the Muslim-dominated barangay (village).

Joined by supporters and former rebels-turned-government soldiers, the MNLF chairman chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) as they marched to the village.

Inside the mosque, he told supporters: "We want freedom from the government. We don't need a limited freedom."

At Garden Orchid hotel, Lobregat and Misuari took their lunch together with some councilors and MNLF commanders. The mayor reiterated to him the stand of the city that it does not want to be a part of the autonomous region.

Lobregat told Misuari the city has been strictly implementing the gun ban and the guidelines for any visit of MNLF to the city that there should be no MNLF uniforms and no display of their flags while in the city.

Earlier, the mayor turned down the request of Misuari's representatives to use the Joaquin F. Enriquez Sports Complex for consultation with their followers citing that it is not an appropriate venue for 200 crowd.

"He (Misuari) wanted to extend the peace here and I told him the people of Zamboanga have been living in peace and so do not disturb the peace. However, his visit here was really to consult his people and I told him there's no problem."

Zamboanga was previously being claimed as part of the ancestral domain of the MNLF and residents had voted twice against the inclusion of their villages to the Muslim autonomous region.

On Monday, thousands of residents staged a protest against the inclusion of eight villages in the city in the ancestral domain, which refers to the MILF’s demand for the expanding territory of what will constitute a Muslim homeland of which they government.

The Supreme Court temporarily stopped the formal signing of the memorandum of agreement (MoA) on ancestral domain with the MILF, which was supposed to take place in Kuala Lumpur last Aug. 5.

Misuari, in another interview, said they were not involved to the GRP-MILF Moro homeland deal and absolutely not a party to that accord, thus they’re not bound by any consequences of that agreement.

He told journalists that he does not know what exactly the meaning of juridical entity saying that it’s just probably a play of word by the government and the MILF peace negotiators.

In September 2, 1996, the MNLF signed the final peace agreement with the Philippine government ending decades of war that had claimed thousands lives and displaced millions.

After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the peace accord, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.

Under the peace accord, Manila would have to provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the South and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.

Misuari is now facing rebellion charges after his followers attempted to overrun a major military base in Sulu province and another group held hostage over 100 people in Zamboanga City in 2001.

He fled to Sabah, Malaysia his former refuge, but was arrested by the Malaysian authorities and sent back to Manila, where he was detained for nearly eight years. He’s currently out on bail after a court in Makati City granted him temporary liberty. (HG)