OIC invites Misuari to Ministers’ confab

From the Manila Bulletin (Dec 2): OIC invites Misuari to Ministers’ confab

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has officially invited Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding Chairman Nur P. Misuari to the 40th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) from December 9 to 11 in Conakry, Guinea, Western Africa.

The invitation made by OIC Secretary General Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanuglo bears the date November 24, 2013.

“I have the honor and pleasure to invite you, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Guinea, and the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to participate in the 40th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers,” said Ihsanuglo, addressing Misuari as “Excellency.”

The OIC official asked the MNLF chieftain to inform the pan-Islamic body of the names of his delegation and travel plans.

Professor Mashur Ghalib bin Jundam provided a copy of the OIC invitation to the Manila Bulletin.

The MNLF leaders expect that the deadly Zamboanga City siege in September, where some 400 Moro rebels and soldiers died, and the government proposal to close the tripartite review of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA), as well as other Bangsamoro issues, to be discussed.

Since the 1970s, the 57-member state OIC has recognized the MNLF as the “sole legitimate representative of the Bangsamoro people.”

This developed after the OIC granted the MNLF an unprecedented and special observer status in relation with the “Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines” already enshrined in the OIC’s annals.

Sources among Misuari’s allies said that if the Moro leader has the choice, considering a case and a warrant of arrest are hounding him, he will definitely attend the Conakry meeting.

Misuari, they said, would not want to miss seeing his friend Ihsanuglo, who will be replaced this year as OIC secretary general by a Saudi Arabian official.

Indonesia will also bow out this year as chairman of the OIC’s Peace Committee for Southern Philippines (PCSP) after 20 years to be replaced by Egypt.

“Both events are important to Brother Nur, so he wants to personally thank Ihsanuglo, and Indonesia at the Conakry meeting,” the MNLF members said.

However, they acknowledged Misuari’s predicament as he has gone in hiding since the siege on September 9 of Zamboanga City.

The question remains if the MNLF founding leader would be able to go to Conakry.

http://www.mb.com.ph/oic-invites-misuari-to-ministers-confab/