The Moro Islamic Liberation Front finally launched its political party on December 24 in its main camp at Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao with more than 110,000 registered volunteers over the 3-day assembly that gathered supporters from mainland Mindanao and island-provinces.
Called the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the regional mass-based party will serve as the Front’s vehicle for participation in the elections that would be held for the establishment of the Bangsamoro government.
Sammy Almansoor, UBJP secretary-general, said that the “UBJP will promote the interests of the Bangsamoro, particularly those that have not been achieved in the armed struggle.”
The “1st Volunteers General Assembly” is, among others, preparatory to an official accreditation of the party by the COMELEC.
“We have to show the COMELEC that we have followers”, said Almansoor who is also the Chief of Staff of the MILF Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).
Almansoor hailed the huge crowd of green-clad volunteers whom he described as backbone of the new political party and critical for the success of the UBJP.
In explaining why the MILF is forming a political party, Almansoor said the UBJP would be a mechanism for transforming itself from a revolutionary movement to a political party that will engage in parliamentary struggle.
“No experience”
MILF Chief Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal admitted that the MILF has no experience in party formation over its past 42 years of armed struggle and that the UBJP is an “entirely new horizon, new struggle.”
“We know that politics can sometimes be divisive, but we hope that our establishment of a genuinely-principled political party will humanize the system,” said Iqbal who is also UBJP Vice-President for Southern Mindanao.
Iqbal stressed that the UBJP will be “owned, managed and led by the Bangsamoro people.”
“We have to face the challenge of transforming our bullets into ballots,” he said.
Support
Several sectors aired their support to the creation of the UBJP.
A representative from the professionals appealed to the leadership of the nascent party that it must “continue the unfinished agenda of MILF and Bangsamoro.”
Atty. Mary Ann Arnado of the Mindanao People’s Caucus expressed hope that the party will usher in a “new form of politics”.
Abhoud Syed Lingga of the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies appealed to the party volunteers to register now and vote along party-line in the anticipated referendum for the Bangsamoro Basic Law so that “this assembly would not be meaningless.”
Statements of support were also made by the ulama, business, women, indigenous peoples, youth, farmers, academe, labor, transport, overseas workers, senior citizens and traditional leaders.
Several incumbent and previously elected politicians, like Gerry Salapuddin of Basilan and Benjamin Loong of Sulu, also graced the opening rites of the assembly that would culminate in the afternoon of December 25.
Party officials
Ustadz Khalifa Nando of the MILF Supreme Shariah Court administered the oath of office of party officials in the closing program of the assembly.
The leadership of the party would be composed of the following:
President -- Alhaj Murad Ebrahim
VP Western Mindanao -- Mahmour Estino
VP Northern Mindanao -- Aleem Ali Solaiman
VP Central Mindanao -- Ghadzali Jaafar
VP Southern Mindanao – Mohagher Iqbal
VP Eastern Mindanao -- Hussein Munoz
Secretary-General -- Sammy Almansoor
Provincial executive officers for Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Davao Oriental are also expected to be sworn in as party officials.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1421-milf-launches-its-own-political-party
Sammy Almansoor, UBJP secretary-general, said that the “UBJP will promote the interests of the Bangsamoro, particularly those that have not been achieved in the armed struggle.”
The “1st Volunteers General Assembly” is, among others, preparatory to an official accreditation of the party by the COMELEC.
“We have to show the COMELEC that we have followers”, said Almansoor who is also the Chief of Staff of the MILF Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).
Almansoor hailed the huge crowd of green-clad volunteers whom he described as backbone of the new political party and critical for the success of the UBJP.
In explaining why the MILF is forming a political party, Almansoor said the UBJP would be a mechanism for transforming itself from a revolutionary movement to a political party that will engage in parliamentary struggle.
“No experience”
MILF Chief Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal admitted that the MILF has no experience in party formation over its past 42 years of armed struggle and that the UBJP is an “entirely new horizon, new struggle.”
“We know that politics can sometimes be divisive, but we hope that our establishment of a genuinely-principled political party will humanize the system,” said Iqbal who is also UBJP Vice-President for Southern Mindanao.
Iqbal stressed that the UBJP will be “owned, managed and led by the Bangsamoro people.”
“We have to face the challenge of transforming our bullets into ballots,” he said.
Support
Several sectors aired their support to the creation of the UBJP.
A representative from the professionals appealed to the leadership of the nascent party that it must “continue the unfinished agenda of MILF and Bangsamoro.”
Atty. Mary Ann Arnado of the Mindanao People’s Caucus expressed hope that the party will usher in a “new form of politics”.
Abhoud Syed Lingga of the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies appealed to the party volunteers to register now and vote along party-line in the anticipated referendum for the Bangsamoro Basic Law so that “this assembly would not be meaningless.”
Statements of support were also made by the ulama, business, women, indigenous peoples, youth, farmers, academe, labor, transport, overseas workers, senior citizens and traditional leaders.
Several incumbent and previously elected politicians, like Gerry Salapuddin of Basilan and Benjamin Loong of Sulu, also graced the opening rites of the assembly that would culminate in the afternoon of December 25.
Party officials
Ustadz Khalifa Nando of the MILF Supreme Shariah Court administered the oath of office of party officials in the closing program of the assembly.
The leadership of the party would be composed of the following:
President -- Alhaj Murad Ebrahim
VP Western Mindanao -- Mahmour Estino
VP Northern Mindanao -- Aleem Ali Solaiman
VP Central Mindanao -- Ghadzali Jaafar
VP Southern Mindanao – Mohagher Iqbal
VP Eastern Mindanao -- Hussein Munoz
Secretary-General -- Sammy Almansoor
Provincial executive officers for Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Davao Oriental are also expected to be sworn in as party officials.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1421-milf-launches-its-own-political-party
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