MNLF senior leaders helped gov't resolve Zambo siege

From the Zamboanga Today (Feb 7): MNLF senior leaders helped gov't resolve Zambo siege

The efforts of senior leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have been instrumental in putting an end to the siege perpetrated by rogue Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members loyal to Nur Misuari in September last year.

"The siege could have been much worse if not for the speedy intervention and collaboration of MNLF senior leaders and officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process," Kong Sahrin, secretary general of the MNLF central committee, said.

He said there was an active engagement between then, the senior MNLF leaders, and OPAPP in the person of Undersecretary Jose Lorena during the siege, especially in convincing other MNLF leaders and members not to reinforce the MNLF-Misuari group in Zamboanga City.

According to him, the remaining MNLF members in neighboring island provinces were gearing up to reinforce the siege but the MNLF senior leaders, through coordination with OPAPP, sent MNLF leader Yusoph Jikiri to Sulu and held a dialogue with the MNLF members there.

Jikiri, who is also a former governor of Sulu, informed the members that the attack is against the 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA) and stressed that there are proper mechanisms where parties can raise issues, without the use of guns.

The success of the dialogue also prevented the escalation and spillover of the armed conflict to other areas.

Followers of Misuari attacked at least seven coastal villages here in September, shooting civilians and taking more than 100 hostages to get attention in setting up their independent state "Bangsamoro Republik".

Misuari accused the Government of the Philippines (GPH) of abandoning the 1996 FPA and sidelining the MNLF in the peace process.

The siege lasted for about three weeks with almost half of the 300 MNLF followers killed, while others are now jailed. Misuari, along with other commanders and followers, has a standing warrant of arrest issued by the regional trial court in this region following the attack.

Some of the MNLF commanders said Misuari deceived them.  They said that they were originally told to only carry out a peace rally in the city, and be paid at least P10,000. But the compensation never came.

Sahrin said there has been an existing engagement between the MNLF and government. However, the faction of Misuari remained adamant since what they are pushing in the tripartite review are their personal interests.

The September attack in this city was the second one launched by Misuari. The first occurred in 2001 in which his followers also took civilian hostages after the government did not support his demand to extend his term as governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). He also led the same atrocities in Jolo.
http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/top-stories/16639-mnlf-senior-leaders-helped-govt-resolve-zambo-siege.html