MNLF-LAUNCHED BANGSAMORO PEOPLE JIHAD FI-SABILILLAH, BEGINNING AND FINAL SAGA
"O believers, fight in the path of Allah without fear of death and bear in mind that Allah hears and knows everything." (2:22)
In keeping with this Qur'anic injunction, the indigenous Muslims with the support of the Animist Lumad natives and the conscious Christians of Mindanao have to continue waging the freedom struggle against the oppressive Filipino colonizers of
Patronized by the American colonizers, the Catholic Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon proclaimed the colonization and occupation of the Bangsamoro homeland of
Consequently, the illegal land-grabbing scheme was formalized by the arbitrary annexation of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan into the
Thus, the present-day Filipino-Moro war in
Clearly this is ordained by the Qur'anic verse: "Fight against them until there is no disorder and Allah's supremacy is established. If they desist, let there be no hostility except against the oppressors." (2:193)
Against the present oppressive Filipino marauders, the Bangsamoro freedom struggle launched in the closing 1960s by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under Chairman Prof. Nur Misuri, Vice-Chairman Datu Abul Khayr Alonto and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Al-Ustaj Salamat Hashim has already lasted forty five years today.
The 4-decade Filipino-Moro war in Mindanao as malevolently designed by the Philippine Commonwealth regime and triggered by Catholic President Ferdinand E. Marcos and eventually pursued by most of his presidential successors, except the Christian President Fidel V. Ramos, is apparently anchored in perpetuating Philippine colonialism in
On this diabolical end, it is worthwhile noting that the Manila government have only mastered the art of diplomatic deception by using "peace process" to prolong the hidden agenda in preserving the colonial slavery of the Muslims and Lumad natives of the Filipino-occupied
On the other hand, motivated highly in regaining freedom, independence and national self-determination, the MNLF Mujahidin and Mujahidat could not just be easily hooked line and sinker to the other colonial strategy of "accommodation and cooptation" employed by the Filipino colonialist politicians. The Philippine colonial government might have been misled to believe that steadfast and committed MNLF freedom fighters are quite similar to the other
Particularly, this is never the case or stature of the peace-and-freedom-loving revolutionary MNLF leadership under Chairman Nur Misuari. Indeed, they always have to vow down to the sacrosanct call for peace in following the command of Allah Almighty, Who has prescribed the following precepts:
"If the enemy is inclined towards peace. do make peace with them, and put your trust in Allah. He is the One Who hears all, knows all"; (8:61)
And, "Therefore, do not be faint hearted crying for peace, for you will surely gain the upper hand. Allah is in your side and will never let your deeds be wasted." (47:35)
Thus, in 1976, the MNLF had to abandon the demand for total freedom and complete independence to accept autonomy for the sake of
TREACHERY BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF "PEACE PROCESS"
The beginning of the search for Mindanao peace to presumably end the Filipino-Moro war in Mindanao started while at the height of the fiercest battles between the colonial AFP occupation troops and MNLF freedom fighters almost everywhere in
The Marcos government invitation for peaceful mediation by the OIC was coursed through the auspices of the Indonesian government that invited the MNLF Chairman to Menado to meet presumably the Filipino president. But the Filipino leader did not show up for the pre-arranged meeting.
Nonetheless, the first phase of the "peace process" was established with the direct involvement of the OIC that led to the peace talks in
However, the dictatorial Marcos hegemony used only the peace dialogue and peace agreement to pursue its colonial interest of divide-rule-destroy methodology. It only used the virtue of the "peace process" to deceive both the Filipino and Bangsamoro masses, including the whole of peace-loving humanity. Using merely the "historical" Tripoli Peace Agreement in justifying its insincerity and treachery, the Marcos dispensation proceeded to unilaterally establish two so-called autonomous governments in Mindanao Region 9 and 12. Clearly, this was contrary to the letter and spirit of the
Expectedly, the deceptive political stratagem led to the dismal collapse of the ceasefire agreement and continued peace talks between the Philippine government and MNLF. This in turn resulted in the killing of the Sulu-based Tabak Division Commander, Major General Teodulfo Bautista, and 35 national ranking AFP officers and soldiers in Patikul, Sulu by the MNLF followers of the legendary Bangsamoro mass leader, Amah Usman Salih.
DRUM BEATING AGAIN THE MNLF LIBERATION STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM AND
"Fight in the cause of Allah with those who fight against you, but do not exceed the limits. Allah does not like transgressors;" (2:190)
And, "Fighting has been made obligatory for you, much to your dislike. It is quite possible that something which you do not like is good for you and something which you love is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not know." (2:216)
Thus, compelled again to resume the freedom struggle to liberate the Bangsamoro people, homeland and uphold the inviolability and dignity of Islam religion, the MNLF Mujahidin were prompted again to face in mortal combat the AFP troops in the battlefields of Filipino-occupied
Although facing burdensome odds because the Marcos government had used all foul means and tremendous resources to divide the Bangsamoro people and to splinter the MNLF leadership, the hard core MNLF cadre officers and gaosbaogbog members and mass supporters continued the freedom struggle guided by the Qur'anic exhortations:
"O Prophet! Rouse the believers to prepare for combat. If there are twenty steadfast among you, they shall vanquish two hundred: If there are one hundred, they shall oversome one thousand of the unbelievers, for they are a people who lack understanding;" (8:65)
And, "If you should die or get killed in the cause of Allah, His forgiveness and mercy will be far batter than all the riches you could gather. (3:157)
RESPONDING AGAIN TO PEACE CALL BY THE CORY AQUINO GOVERNMENT
Ten years after the betrayal of
Nevertheless, after holding the peace talks and signing the Jeddah Accord on April 17, 1987, calling for the substantial implementation of the 1976 Tripoli Peace Agreement, the Aquino administration reneged on its commitment. Instead, the GRP Peace Panel headed by former Vice-President Emmanuel Pelaez enticed the MNLF leadership with a "10-province plus 3-province" implementation formula. But this was categorically turned down by the MNLF.
Thus, following the colonial strategic duplicity of the Marcos regime, the Aquino government unilaterally established, contriving with a controlled Philippine Congress, the 4-province Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The superficial ARMM formula was in silver platter offered to the MNLF, but it was rejected by both the MNLF and OIC as a political solution to the Filipino-Moro war in
ENCORE BETRAYAL OF
"The believers are warned: 'Allah hates those people who say one thing and do another. He loves those who fight for the sake of truth like a solid wall against the enemies of Allah." (61:2)
Consciously guided by the aforementioned Qur'anic wisdom after being betrayed by the Philippine Aquino government for the second time, the MNLF reverted back to its original obligation of militant freedom struggle in regaining the independence and national self-determination of the Bangsamoro people from Philippine colonial rule.
The sudden eruption of the AFP-MNLF war in Labatan, Zamboanga del Sur, in 1987 signaled the total collapse of the "peace process" under the Aquino government, escalating to other areas in
Betrayal of trust and insincerity to correctly implement the peace agreement obligated again the MNLF to declare a full scale Jihad Fi-Sabilillah against the Manila government to redeem freedom and independence for the Bangsamoro people of Filipino-colonized
INTRODUCTION OF CLIMATE OF NO-WAR, NO-PEACE BY RAMOS GOVERNMENT
The MNLF freedom fighters pursued actively the liberation war against the Philippine Aquino government for about five years guided by Allah's commandment:
"Fight in the cause of Allah with those who fight against you, but do not exceed the limits. Allah does not like transgressors. (2:190)
However, the unexpected twist of event and the renewal of the call for peace to be given another chance by the Christian Ramos government in 1992 led the MNLF to slow down its full maximum war-footing preparation.
Certainly, the MNLF-guided Jihad Fi-Sabilillah against the oppressive Philippine government has to abide with the infinite wisdom of Allah:
"O believers! Fight them until there is no more mischief and the Deen of Allah (way of life prescribed by Allah) is established completely; but if they so stop from mischief, then truly, Allah is observant of all their actions." (8:39)
Thus, abandoning for the third time the sacrosanct freedom struggle being waged for centuries by the Moro forebears against the Spanish, American and Japanese oppressors in defense of the preservation of their own, homeland and sanctity of Islam religion, the MNLF Mujahidin again accepted to conduct peace dialogue with the Ramos government based on complete autonomy concept stipulated by the 1976 Tripoli Peace Agreement.
FORGING THE SEPTEMBER 2, 1996 GRP-OIC-MNLF
After the first exploratory talks in Tripoli in 1992 and the succeeding preliminary and final peace negotiations in Jakarta, Manila and Mindanao, the Philippine government and MNLF peace panels with the active participation of the OIC general secretariat successfully forged the "final peace agreement" (FPA) historically-known September 2, 1996 GRP-OIC-MNLF Jakarta Peace Agreements. The international agreement was initially signed in
The political mechanism of the gradual implementation of the 1996 peace agreement by the Ramos government involved the creation by presidential decree of the 13-province and 9-city Southern Philippines Council For Peace And Development (SPCPD) as "zone of peace and development" (ZOPAD) to be administered by the MNLF and Bangsamoro learned sector. Because SPCPD was conceptualized without a political clout and financial budget but only a sort of monitoring body to oversee the proposed development by the
Thus, MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari was tasked by the Ramos government to serve simultaneously as ARMM governor and SPCPD chairman pending the the complete implementation of the 1996 peace agreement.
The successful forging of the 1996 peace agreement and the dawn of temporal climate of peace in war-torn
However, the correct and full implementation of the September 2, 1996 GRP-OIC-MNLF Jakarta Peace Agreements was overtaken by political events due to leadership change. Catholic President Joseph E. Estrada succeeded the Christian President Fidel V. Ramos, but did nothing concrete to implement the 1996 peace agreement except to worsen the unresolved Filipino-Moro war in
The full implementation of the 1996 peace agreement was fully forgotten and sidelined by the short-lived Estrada watch up to the Arroyo government. Worse, Catholic President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo totally ignored the comprehensive implementation of the 1996 peace agreement, but instead designed further to divide the Bangsamoro people and to undermine the MNLF leadership by creating a Malacanang version of 15-member Moro National Liberation Front-Executive Council (MNLF-EC15) group to discredit MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari as ARMM governor and SPCPD chairman. The Arroyo government shrewdly used some disgruntled power-hungry elements managed by former Cotabato City Vice-Mayor Muslimin Sema.
Moreover, the Arroyo government decided to open up peace negotiations with the MILF under the sponsorship of
Thus, when the MNLF leadership discerned the treacherous political maneuver of the Arroyo government that proceeded to unilaterally establish the new version 5-province ARMM in conspiracy again with Philippine Congress in order not to implement correctly the 1996 peace agreement, the MNLF chairman decided to abandon altogether ARMM. The MNLF leadership called for a general consultative assembly of all MNLF political, military and religious leaders as well as all sectors of the Bangsamoro society in
The MNLF leadership tasked Elly Velez Pamatong to elevate the petition for freedom, independence and national self-determination of the Bangsamoro people to the United Nations (UN) Decolonization Committee in
FILIPINO-MORO WAR AS PATHWAY TO FREEDOM AND
With the repeated betrayal of Mindanao peace by the Arroyo government and the formal declaration again by the MNLF of regaining freedom for the colonized Muslim and Lumad natives as well as conscious Christians and independence for the Bangsamoro homeland of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan, this resulted again to the resumption of shooting war between the AFP soldiers and MNLF forces.
While the MNLF Chairman was in Jolo preparing for his departure to the OIC general headquarters in Jeddah, the AFP occupation soldiers provoked and attacked MNLF camps in the liberated areas in Jolo island. The provocation and treacherous incursion forced the regular MNLF fighters and mass supporters to stage a a counter offensive inflicting heavy casualties on the Filipino military invaders in Jolo.
Thus, backdrop by the resurgence of the blood-letting AFP-MNLF hostilities in Sulu, the MNLF Chairman left for the Middle East availing as usual the so-called backdoor exit journey through
However, with the rebellion charge proven falsified and through the political and diplomatic pressure exerted by the OIC to continue the "peace process" by even forming a Tri-Partite Ministerial meeting in Jeddah to review and hasten the implementation of the 1996 peace agreement, the MNLF Chairman was released after posting a bail. The OIC even sent a fact-finding group to
Nevertheless, the Arroyo government kept on delaying the first scheduled Jeddah meeting of the Tri-Partite Ministerial Committee Review. Thus, when it finally conducted its diplomatic task involving series of meetings in different venues little progress was accomplished due again to change of Philippine leadership.
Consequently, Catholic President Benigno S. Aquino III was overwhelmingly elected as the new chief executive to add fuel to enflame the Filipino-Moro war in
AQUINO GOVERNMENT IGNITED AGAIN FILIPINO-MORO WAR IN
Practically emulating the presidential style of her mother, who creditably created ARMM as "cheating capital of Philippine elections", President Noynoy Aquino personally met and dialogued with MILF Chairman Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim in Tokyo to jumpstart the peace talks between the government and MILF that later produced the framework agreement on Bangsamoro (FAB).
President Aquino looked at the ARMM as a "failed experiment" and a by-product of the September 2, 1996 MNLF-OIC-GRP Jakarta Peace Agreements and just easily decided to throw it to the dustbin of history by contemplating to finish off the GRP-OIC-MNLF Tri-Partite Review Committee meetings. But later on denied the whole plan when the MNLF publicly proclaimed to revert back to its original goal of demanding freedom and independence for the Bangsamoro people since the Philippine version of the "peace process" became a two-bladed weapon in presumably achieving peace with the MILF and declaring war with the MNLF.
With the negative posture shown by the Aquino government to discontinue the "peace process" with the MNLF and OIC, but instead chose to mysteriously collaborate with Malaysia to finally end the Filipino-Moro war in Mindanao with FAB to gradually replace ARMM, this gave the MNLF leverage and opportunity to proclaim Mindanao independence. Furthermore, this also permitted the MNLF in declaring the proposed establishment of the United Federated States of Bangsamoro Republik (UFSBR) as
Through series of peace rallies in Jolo, Basilan, General Santos and
Thus, the total disrespect by the Aquino government to the 1996 peace agreement and the suppression of the basic fundamental rights of the MNLF members and mass supporters to express peacefully their sentiments and aspirations in peaceful assembly led to the September 20-day Filipino-Moro war in
Only the strongly-felt intervention of United Nations (UN), Organization of Islamic Cooperation, European Union (EU) and
The Aquino government have only viewed the human death casualties and material losses as a colateral damage to put an end to the MNLF-launched freedom struggle by filing a case of rebellion against the MNLF chairman, Ustaj Khabir Malik and other MNLF leaders as though this America-introduced colonial threat can immediately stop the century-old Bangsamoro struggle against their oppressors.
The Aquino government through their captive media have only blamed and accused the MNLF freedom fighters of a war crime against a colonial version of a Philippine society, but never the colonial Philippine military occupation soldiers of committing a war crime against the colonized Muslim and Animist Lumad natives of
CONTINUING THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE OF THE HISTORICAL MORO MARTYRS
Thus, continuing now the historical Bangsamoro freedom struggle waged by the Muslim martyrs in the past against the Spanish, American and Japanese colonialist oppressors, the MNLF Mujahidin today have all the moral and legitimate obligation and responsibility to pursue their Jihad Fi-Sabilillah against the oppressive Catholic Aquino government . This includes the future Filipino colonizers whose political and economic greed to continue the colonization and occupation of
"And what reason do you have not to fight in the cause of Allah, to rescue the helpless oppressed old men, women and children who are crying: 'Our Rabb! Deliver us from this town whose people are oppressors; send us a protector by Your grace and send us a helper from Your presence;" (4:75)
Coincidence or Karmic Justice? After the mass burning of family homes, worshippers' houses and institutes of learning (madrasah) by the Philippine military soldiers during the September, 2013 AFP-MNLF war in Zamboanga City, the cries of the distressed young and old Muslims for help were repeatedly raised and directed upon President Benigno S. Aquino. They cried only for the restoration of their burned mosques, not so much for their homes.
Sad to note, the desperate cry of complaint of any Muslim in
However, days after the burning and desecrating by mostly AFP Visayan soldiers of 13 sacred masjid, learning centers and houses in the five Muslim communities in Zamboanga City, mother nature struck in Bohol and Cebu, destroying ten historical churches, bridges, roads and several houses.
In contrast to the man-made disaster affecting the Muslims in
Truth to tell, this has always been the case of the Muslim and Animist Lumad natives in Mindanao related to Filipino leadership from
The Bangsamoro Grand Mufti, Al-Ustaj Abdulbaki Abubakar, has always taught the MNLF Mujahidin and Mujahidat on the divine knowledge that the forces of nature, like lightning, storm, among others, are soldiers of Allah. Muslims can always avail of their intervention through the leave of God Almighty by fervent prayers.
On this firm belief, the Bangsamoro freedom fighters now must not doubt the divine help they can generate by struggling for peace, justice and freedom denied them by the Philippine colonial government for decades. The gruesome injustice committed by the Filipino colonizers against the Bangsamoro people for years now must strengthen the MNLF-launched Bangsamoro Jihad Fi-Sabilillah to continue the historical struggle and the Bangsamoro Mujahidin to be guided by Allah's words:
"O believers! When you encounter the unbelievers in a battle, never turn your backs, and whoever turns his back to them on such an occasion - unless it be a strategy of war, or to to join towards a detachment - shall incur the wrath of Allah and his abode shall be hell, and how awful shall be that dwelling." (8:15-16)
DRAWING MORAL LESSON FROM PHILIPPINE "PEACE PROCESS
From the 37 years of peace talks and signing of three peace agreements with the Manila government or Imperial Manila, the moral lesson learned by the MNLF and Bangsamoro people is that "peace process" is only used by the Filipino colonialist politicians to advance their strategic interest of continuing and preserving the colonization and occupation of
On the side of the MNLF and BIFM Mujahidin, they are now fully aware that their demand for freedom and independence, then and now, rests not on deceptive "peace process." But, they have to prove to themselves, history and posterity that the MNLF-launched Bangsamoro freedom struggle characterized by the historical Spanish-Moro war, American-Moro war, Japanese-Moro war, and presently, Filipino-Moro war, is the only logical, practical and moral pathway to redeem liberty and national patrimony of the oppressed Bangsamoro people.
Therefore, the Bangsamoro freedom fighters today should learn from history and from the Moro martyrs of all past generations that any Jihad Fi-Sabilillah against the Spanish, American, Japanese and Filipino oppressors and unbelievers must be guided by Allah's following commandments:
"O believers! Do not make intimate friendships with any but your own people. The unbelievers will not miss any opportunity to corrupt you. They desire nothing but your destruction: their malice has become evident from what they say; and what they conceal in their hearts is far worse. We have made our revelations plain to you, if you want to comprehend;" (3:118)
"Never think of those who are slain for the cause of Allah as dead. Nay, they are alive, and well provided for by their Rabb; (3:169)
And, "Muhammad! As for those who are slain in the cause of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost. Soon, He will guide them, improve their condition and admit them to the paradise which He had made known to them." (47:4-6)
UNITY: THE VITAL WEAPON TO REDEEM FREEDOM AND
On the final note, the Bangsamoro Mujahidin and Mujahidat of the MNLF, MILF and BIFM must always be disciplined and guided by the clear commandments of Almighty Allah Who decreed:
"O believers! Fear Allah as He should be feared and die not but as true Muslims. All together hold fast to the rope of Allah (Faith of Islam) and be not divided among yourselves;" (3:102-103)
And finally, "Be not like those, who became divided into sects and who started to argue against each other after clear revelations had come to them. Those responsible for division and arguments will be sternly punished." (3:105)
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