MILF leader appeals for Japan, int'l support

From ABS-CBN (Oct 28): MILF leader appeals for Japan, int'l support

Philippine Muslim rebel leader Al Haj Murad Ebrahim appealed Saturday for assistance from Japan and other countries as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front prepares to launch an autonomous government on Mindanao under an agreement reached earlier this month with the government in Manila.... Murad recognized Japan's involvement in the Muslim region in Mindanao, which focuses on socio-economic projects such as schools, water facilities and training centers. "Japan has been engaged already and they have seen the area. They know the potentials in the area," Murad said.
Murad said with international assistance many of his fighters, which authorities estimate to be more than 10,000, can return to farming and small business, while the younger ones can go to school. "We're very interested also in the aspect of education because many of our young people were deprived of education because of the conflict," he said. Aside from foreign assistance, Murad also directly appealed for foreign investors to put money in the Bangsamoro territory. "We are inviting foreign investors because we always believe that foreign investment will drive the economy very strongly," he said....

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/10/27/12/milf-leader-appeals-japan-intl-support