Nur charged with rebellion

From the Manila Bulletin (Oct 4): Nur charged with rebellion

The Philippine National Police (PNP) filed yesterday a complaint of rebellion and violation of international humanitarian law against Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari in connection with a deadly three-week standoff between government troops and insurgents who held scores of people hostage.

More than 200 people and nearly 10,000 houses were burned in the fighting that followed the rebel attempt to storm Zamboanga city hall last September 9.

80 Others Charged

Regional state prosecutor Peter Medalle said Thursday he filed a complaint against Misuari and some 80 of his followers. So far, more than 200 rebels have been charged.

Misuari is believed to be hiding in the southern Philippines. He is the leader of a faction of the MNLF, which signed a 1996 peace agreement but later accused the Philippine government of failing to honor it.

The rebel group, which Misuari founded in the early 1970s to fight for minority Muslim self-rule in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation, has been overshadowed by a bigger rival group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in negotiations with the government to expand an autonomous Muslim region.

Similar Attack In 2001

Misuari’s armed followers led a similar attack in 2001, during which they also seized civilians hostage. He was then charged with rebellion, escaped to neighboring Malaysia but was arrested and extradited to the Philippines. He later posted bail and was acquitted for lack of evidence.

Meanwhile, Muslim religious leaders and scholars warned of an escalation of armed conflict and continuous displacement of innocent civilians in Mindanao unless the issue of the peace accord is satisfactorily resolved.

Yesterday, leaders and scholars from Zamboanga and the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi met here to express their deep concern on the 22-day standoff between government troops and MNLF fighters loyal to Misuari. (With reports from Nonoy E. Lacson , and Edd K. Usman)

OIC Help Needed

Meanwhile, former MNLF chief propagandist Hadji Akmad Bayam appealed to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to help Zamboanga City in its rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Bayam responded to the call of the government to the international community for help by appealing to the 57-member pan-Islamic body.

http://www.mb.com.ph/nur-charged-with-rebellion/