MILF: Editorial -- MILF, MNLF Rendezvous In Jeddah

Editorial posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (May 8): Editorial -- MILF, MNLF Rendezvous In Jeddah

The issue of disunity has been the main point of attack hurled against the Bangsamoro people by those who do not wish them well. The truth is that the Bangsamoro people are as disunited or united as the rest of the peoples of this country. How do we explain the various coup attempts against the powers in government and the wrangling of leaders that led to many personalities put behind bars? The many political killings, the senseless killings in the street, and the almost direction-less debates in the mass media?

It is to be admitted here that the struggle to unite the various Moro fronts has not been easy and short. Never mind the so-called ISIS-inspired youths in Lanao, the Abu Sayyaf Group, which is heavily infiltrated by military agents, in fact, many of their leaders or sub-groups have military handlers, and the BIFF/BIFM, which is splintered into various small factions! They virtually have no political agenda, except the first which is said to have a global agenda of reviving the Islamic caliphate of old.

But what is paramount is that the Moro fronts are struggling and staking everything to put up their acts together. They know that unity has no substitute and they will leave no stone unturned if only to succeed. But they are also aware that there is no absolute unity – and they are guided by that basic truth. There are always people or groups who never want to unite. This is one of the reasons why in democracy the rule of the majority is pursued.

The good news is that the Moro fronts are gradually succeeding. Right today, May 8, leaders of the MILF and MNLF are meeting in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the auspices of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in their continuing efforts to strengthen and consolidate the Bangsamoro Coordination Forum (BCF), which is a body wherein all the various fronts as well as other well-meaning Moro organizations subject to some prerequisites are members.

Specifically, they will also discuss and come up with common stand on various issues especially in “harmonizing and converging” provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the GRP-MNLF Final Agreement of September 1996 related to the task of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) in crafting a new Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). But the efforts are mainly about identifying and using provisions of the GRP-MNLF agreement that are not implemented which can enhance and improve” the BBL, because this proposed law has to mainly based on the letter and spirit of the CAB.

The ongoing rendezvous of Moro leaders in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia brings together senior leaders of the MILF and MNLF. On the MILF side, no less than MILF Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim is leading the MILF five-man team; on the MNLF side (Jikiri’s faction), four of their leaders are attending: Yusof Jikiri, Hatimil Hassan, Muslimin Sema, and Abdul Sahrin.

What is not good news is that MNLF leader Nur Misuari seems not in the vicinity of the meeting in Jeddah. By all indications, he is not joining or is not allowed to leave the country. In either case, it is not good for the search for this unity of the Moro fronts and the Bangsamoro people. If he can leave for the same country sometime in April or earlier, we see no reason why he cannot leave this time.

However, there is no indication whatsoever of any representative coming from his faction. This is the least that is expected of his group. However, we are still verifying this up to this moment. We are still hoping for the best!

http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/839/-milf--mnlf-rendezvous-in-jeddah