Thursday, July 30, 2015

MILF: MILF Committee on Information holds General Meeting

Posted to the MILF Website (Jul 30): MILF Committee on Information holds General Meeting

MILF Committee on Information holds General Meeting

The Committee on Information of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) held its 21st General Meeting/Assembly in two separate venues. On July 25, a program was held at a gymnasium in Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. The succeeding program on July 26 was held at Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) Training Center at Crossing Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

The theme of the gathering was “INFORMATION: A catalyst for change”. It was attended by MILF Information Officers from all over Mindanao. Delegates from Western Mindanao and remote provinces arrived on July 24 with representative from Metro Manila also attended.

The number of participants was 332 comprising male and female information officers excluding officers of the Central Committee on Information that organized and facilitated the program.

Day one program was held at Darapanan Gymnasium and was attended by MILF Executive hierarchies headed by MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim, BTC Chair and Information Committee Chairman Mohagher Iqbal and others Senior Officials of the MILF Central Committee.

The dynamic team of secretariat, working committees and technical working group from energetic volunteers were headed by Mr. Kris T. Yano, Information OIC- Secretary and Sheikh Mahmod S. Ahmad, BLMI Executive Director. Mr. Khaled Omar and Ali Anso.

The first resource person was Grand Mufti Sheikh Abuhuraira Udasan of the Darul Ifta (House of Opinion). His topic centered on “The Role of Islam in the MILF Struggle” Mufti Udasan stressed the importance of Unity, understanding and respect for one another which were the elements of early Muslims Ummah (Community) source of strength and splendidness.

He also elaborated on the various scenarios by quoting various verses from Noble Qur’an and Hadiths (Tradition and Practices) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the fundamental sources of Muslim Unity and antidote to societal degeneracy.

Mr. Sammy Al- Mansour, Chief of Staff of BIAF-MILF gave inspirational message by underlining the inevitable problems that every family, organizations and countries are experiencing today. He underscored the importance of having a positive outlook to overcome negative perceptions by taking a further look at the circumstances instead of taking precipitous judgments and conclusions.

Another inspirational message was delivered by Commissioner Sheikh Ibrahim Ali, Head of MILF Daw’ah and member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC). Sheikh Ali emphasized the important role of information which is correlated to Daw’ah (Islamic propagation).

“Changes for better preferences must be operationalized first inwardly” Sheikh Ali added by quoting various Qur’anic verses and Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in signifying the concepts and practice on how to attain ones objective through effective delivery of information and propagation.

The keynote address was delivered by MILF Chairman, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim. He accentuated on the concept of people’s struggle that the Bangsamoro people have been relentlessly undergoing and aspiring for genuine autonomy in the Bangsamoro homeland.

The role of the information officers in providing right information and guiding the people is like a guiding star where the primitive sailors relied on during their journey under darkness; and now you are like a Global Position System (GPS) Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said.

After a comprehensive speech delivered by the resource persons; question and answer followed where the information officers were able to grasp firsthand information from the MILF Senior officials which were primarily concerned on the aspects of Bangsamoro legitimate struggle, the GPH-MILF Peace process and the status of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in congress.
In afternoon program, BTC Chair and Committee on Information head and Chair of MILF Peace Panel, Mohagher Iqbal gave updates on the GPH-MILF Peace process and the status of BBL.

Chair Iqbal stressed the nature and the history of GPH-MILF protracted peace negotiations that reached about 17 years that paved the way for the signing of two major agreements, the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

During the open forum, Chairman Iqbal candidly answered the questions raised by some participants concerning the GPH-MILF Peace process and the status of BBL.

During the evening program, Ustadz Hadi Daguit, Islamic Studies Instructor at the University of the Philippines (UP) and employee of National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) lectured on the importance of Halal.

The participants enjoyed in watching a video showing of late MILF founding Chairman Sheikh Hashim Salamat and the History of Moro Struggle.
  
On the second-day of the program, annual reports by provincial information directors were submitted to Chairman Iqbal.

Iqbal himself made an evaluation and assessment of the annual reports.

A contest portion highlighted the program where twenty two (22) selected participants mostly Provincial Information Directors and Municipal Information Officers from Bangsamoro areas participated.

Those who won the contest were awarded personally by Chairman Iqbal being the chair of of the board of judges and assisted by members of secretariat.

The 21st General Meeting/ Assembly of the MILF Committee on Information Assembly succeeded through the joint efforts and active participation of organizers and participants.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/new/item/505-milf-committee-on-information-holds-general-meeting

1 comment:

  1. The MILF Committee on Information oversees the MILF propaganda effort. Mohagher Iqbal, who heads the Committee, has long functioned as the chief propagandist for the group. Among his propaganda efforts are the writing of several works using the pseudonym Salah Jubair entitled "Bangsamoro, a Nation Under Endless Tyranny" (several editions) and "The Long Road to Peace: Inside the GRP-MILF Peace Process." These books outline MILF views on the "Bangsamoro problem" and the GRP-MILF peace negotiations.

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