The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) denied reports
that it is negotiating the ongoing claims of the Sultanate of Sulu over Sabah with the Malaysian government.
In a statement sent to the Inquirer, the MNLF claimed that its
founding chair Nur Misuari has not authorized anyone to talk with any emissary
from the Malaysian government.
“Chairman Professor Nur Misuari of the Central Committee of
the Moro National Liberation (MNLF) has categorically denied giving tacit
approval to any departmentalized committee of the Front, especially the MNLF
foreign affairs and any state chairmanship committee, to negotiate with any
Malaysian officialdom on the status of North Borneo (now Sabah and Sarawak),”
the MNLF said.
Misuari, who is hiding after the hostilities in Zamboanga in
2013, maintains his position that only the Sultanate of Sulu can pursue the
negotiations for the Sabah claim.
“Respecting the fervent wish of the late Sultan Muhammad
Jamalul Kiram III to let alone the Islamic Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo
(SSNB) to negotiate peacefully with the Muslim leaders of Malaysia to settle
the controversial issue in order not to repeat the March 2013 Lahad Datu, Sabah
incident, Chairman Misuari has dismissed the media reports as unfounded and
without any ounce of truth involving the MNLF in any level talks,” the MNLF
statement said.
The MNLF, however, asserted that the Sabah case is a
non-issue because it is the “home-base for different tribal groupings of
Muslims from different regions of Southeast Asia
that have enjoyed peaceful and harmonious co-existence with the Chinese and
Christian populace in the area.”
The statement followed reports that MNLF peace panel
spokesperson Absalom Cerveza allegedly divulged about a negotiation with Malaysia
“On this development, Chairman Misuari has personally
contacted the MNLF Christian leader informing him of the falsehood of the media
report as the MNLF Central Committee has never sanctioned any level meetings
with any Malaysian officials on the North Borneo
issue,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Misuari called for a meeting with top MNLF
officials on May 20 to discuss the recent updates on the peace negotiations in Mindanao .
“Furthermore, giving more importance to the strategic peace
initiatives now undertaken by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
whose leadership has even recently conducted significant meetings in Davao City
with the MNLF and MILF leaders in highlighting the implementation of the
September 2, 1996 MNLF-OIC-GRP Peace agreements, Chairman Misuari has called
the attention of the Davao City-based MNLF Vice-Chairman Abdul-Aziz Olamit and
all MNLF foreign affairs committee officialdom to attend a special meeting in
the Bangsamoro homeland on May 20, this year,” the MNLF said.
The meeting will also tackle discussions on how the MNLF as
a permanent observer to the OIC will “present the sad case of the Philippine
government under President Benigno S. Aquino III, who has repeatedly shown
disrespect to the 1996 peace agreement by totally ignoring the comprehensive
and correct implementation of the international accord.”
The MNLF also hinted that Misuari might attend Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) meeting in Kuwait
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/123056/mnlf-denies-talks-with-malaysia-over-sabah
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