MNLF: Bangsamoro Constitution -- Road Map to Independence and National Self-Determination

Editorial posted to the MNLF Website (Aug 23): Bangsamoro Constitution: Road Map to Independence and National Self-Determination



MNLF Chairman Prof. Nur Misuari flanked by MNLF political, military and religious leaders taken just before the declaration of independence on August 12, 2013.

"Bangsamoro constitution is an idea whose time has come", declared Chairman Prof. Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Zamboanga City during the last week of July, 2013.

In a gathering of MNLF political, religious and military leaders from the different state revolutionary committees and mass supporters from all over the Bangsamoro homeland of Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan (MINSUPALA), a revolutionary government constitution was unveiled. This led to the proclamation of the establishment of the United Federated States of Bangsamoro Republik (UFSBR), embracing the islands of Mindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Palawan and North Borneo ('Sabah'). The declared capital of UFSBR is Davao City.

The Preamble of the drafted different nineteen (19) Articles of the Bangsamoro Constitution read:

"We, the united people, Lumads, Muslims and Christians of Bangsamoro Republik, exercising our inherent sovereignty, do hereby establish this Constitution.

We manifest our common wish to live together in peace and harmony, to preserve the heritage of the past, and to cherish and sustain the promise of the future.

We uphold the diversity of our religions, cultures and traditions. Our differences enrich us. The seas bring us together, they do not separate us. Our islands sustain us, our aspirations and dreams as a nation enlarge us and make us stronger.

Our ancestors, who made their homes on these islands, displaced no other people. Having known war, we hope for peace. Having been divided, we wish unity and we seek freedom.

We extend to all nations what we seek from each: peace, friendship, cooperation, and love in our common humanity.

With this constitution we humbly implore the aid of our Maker and do ordain this constitution." 

The reading of the Bangsamoro Constitution and the proclamation of the United Federated States of Bangsamoro Republik in Zamboanga City on July 28, this year, was simultaneously conducted in the different MNLF camps throughout the Bangsamoro homeland.

Thus, with the official proclamation of both the Bangsamoro Constitution and the UFSBR government, the next peaceful political initiative of the MNLF is to bring the case to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The MNLF holds a 'permanent observer' status in the global pan-Islamic body, which has been for years recognizing MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari as the 'spokesman' of the Bagsamoro people of Filipino-occupied Mindanao.

After dispensing with the protocol of formality in the OIC, the MNLF will again in due time advance the cause of Bangsamoro freedom and independence to the United Nations (UN). 

It is recalled that on December 10, 2000 the MNLF had already elevated the demand and clamour of the oppressive Bangsamoro people of Mindanao under Philippine colonialism during the Arroyo regime to the UN Committee on Decolonization. But this was not seriously followed up following the controversial arrest of the MNLF Chairman and five escorts in Sabah by the Mahathir regime. He was later turned over to the Manila government to be charged for rebellion case, but was eventually released upon the diplomatic pressure of the OIC being a principal signatory to the September 2, 1996 MNLF-OIC-GRP Jakarta Peace Agreements.

Just like the Arroyo regime, Philippine colonialism under present President Benigno S. Aquino III has no political will to fully implement the 1996 Peace Agreement, but instead is committed to implement the highly suspicious Malaysia-brokered 2013 framework agreement on Bangsamoro with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). This was after closely examining that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), a bogus regional government created by Philippine Congress under President Corazon C. Aquino, is a "failed experiment."

On this political end game when the present Aquino regime informed the OIC of its intention to abrogate the peace process with the MNLF but only retracted to mean the termination of the GRP-OIC-MNLF peace agreement committee review,  this deceptive political maneuver only set free the MNLF from fulfilling its binding commitment to consider the concept of autonomy without sovereignty. This all started with the 1976 Tripoli Peace Agreement mediated by the OIC.

Hence, this has given the MNLF the historic opportunity to resume the original objective of independence for the Bangsamoro homeland MINSUPALA and national self-determination for the Lumad (Animist) and Muslim natives as well as the Christians of the Filipino-occupied territory. Clearly now, the road to 'just and lasting' peace in finally ending the 4-decades long Philippines-Bangsamoro war in Mindanao is the freedom and independence of the colonized Bangsamoro people. This road leads now to the United Nations (UN). On this historic journey for UN recognition and acceptance by the whole humanity of the newly established nation state in Southeast Asia - the United Federated States of Bangsamoro Republik - MNLF Chairman Prof. Nur Misuari has issued this appeal: "We hereby call upon the people of the world, most particularly the United Nations and the UN Secretary General, His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon, to extend their formal recognition and support behind this new state." The rest is future history.

 

The Grand MNLF Bangsamoro Convergence-Rally at the New Tulay Central Mosque complex on August 19, 2013 explaining the steps to be taken following the declaration of independence on August 12, 2013 at Lampaya, Talipao, Lupah Sug.

http://mnlfnet.com/Articles/BYC_23Aug2013_Bangsamoro%20Constitution.htm