Hold on to peace, Murad tells supporters

From Rappler (Jul 17): Hold on to peace, Murad tells supporters

MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ibrahim tells supporters to “hold on to the peace process” at Eid’l Fitr celebration



CELEBRATION. Hundreds of faithful troop to the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid, named after the Sultan of Brunei who funded the construction of the biggest mosque in the Philippines, to celebrate Eid'l Fitr in Cotabato City. Photo by Edwin Espejo / Rappler

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindano - Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chair Al Haj Murad Ibrahim told supporters Friday, June 17 to “hold on to the peace process.” The chairman said this after the group faced difficulties in the implementation of the peace agreement signed with the government last year.

“We have already traveled a long way and invested many efforts to attain our objective and to return to violence and hostility should be our last option when every other peaceful means is exhausted,” Murad said in his Eid'l Fitr message in the rebel stronghold at Camp Darapanan.

Muslims throughout the country celebrated Eid’l Fitr, ending 29 days of Ramadan.

MILF supporters waving flags joined the "takbir" Thursday evening, when locals parade around the city blowing horns and chanting "allahu akbar" (Allah is great). Revelers, some of them naked from the waist up as well as motorists flooded the streets of Cotabato City.

The takbir is held every Eid’l Fitr eve, when the Muslim "mufti" – Islamic scholar and interpreter of religious laws – announces the sighting of the moon to end the month of Ramadan. The takbir is reportedly held only in Cotabato City.

Sheik Abuhurayra Udasan wished for lasting peace to prevail in the Bangsamoro homeland, but added that peace must be based on justice and equality.

Decomissioning contingent on BBL

Murad said he is still optimistic congress will be able to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before President Benigno Aquino III steps down from office on June 30 next year.

He was evasive when pressed if the MILF will go back to war if congress fails to enact the BBL.

“We will continue to persist on passage on the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro,” he insisted.

Murad also warned that the MILF will not proceed with the decommissioning of forces and firearms if Congress fails to pass the BBL.

“The second phase which entails the decommissioning of 30 percent of the MILF forces will not proceed,” Murad warned.

The MILF has not publicly disclosed its strength or the number of firearms it has in its arsenal. They have once claimed to have over 50,000 armed regulars.

The House of Representatives failed to pass its version of the BBL before it went into recess on June 11. It will resume session later this month in time for President Aquino’s state of the nation address (SONA).

In the senate, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he will introduce a new version of the bill instead of sending the Palace-backed BBL, virtually guaranteeing further delay in the creation of a Bangsamoro autonomous region.

Peaceful celebration

Thousands flocked to the Grand Mosque for the Eid’l Fitr while hundreds more trooped to other mosques throughout Maguindanao province.

A family from Rajah Buayan town arrived at the mosque as early as 3am for the 7am Eid’l Fitr prayers, saying they wanted to make sure they were well-positioned during prayers.

The Grand Mosque, also known as Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid, is named after the Sultan of Brunei who funded the construction of the biggest mosque in the Philippines. The mosque can accommodate more than 2,000 inside the prayer room and was completed in 2012.

In Datu Saudi town, also in Maguindanao, hundreds flocked to the Pink Mosque named after its color motif. The town hall is also painted pink.

There were no immediate reports of untoward incidents or rebel activities from the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters which broke away from the MILF to oppose the peace process.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/99704-hold-on-to-peace-milf-murad-eid