Misuari holds plenum under gov’t’s nose

From the Daily Tribune (Jan 10): Misuari holds plenum under gov’t’s nose

With a standing arrest order from the courts, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari seems oblivious of the government forces as a Mindanao-based newspaper said that he again led a massive show of force of the rebel group with heads of the Abu Sayyaf Group during a plenum in Indanan, Sulu.

Warrants of arrest were issued against Misuari for the September 2013 siege of Zamboanga City where at least 300 people were killed and over 120,000 families displaced.

He and his followers, who took part in the violence, now face charges of rebellion and violation of international humanitarian law (war crimes).

The government, however, seems to be working on a so-called plan B for the passage of the stalled Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in which the MNLF would be integrated in the government’s peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Mindanao Examiner said in a report that security forces have failed to arrest Misuari during the Sulu plenum.

The report said a huge group of MNLF members, mostly armed with heavy weapons, and Abu Sayyaf rebels attended the plenum called by Misuari to discuss the upcoming Islamic Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva.

Misuari is reportedly planning to attend the summit despite a string of criminal charges filed by authorities against him and about 300 others who took part in the siege of Zamboanga.

Mindanews said the plenum forced the military to declare a red alert status in Sulu for fear the MNLF and Abu Sayyaf may launch a surprise attack on government targets.

Misuari signed a peace deal with the government in September 1996 to end decades of a bloody secessionist war in Mindanao.

After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

But despite the peace accord, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted, Mindanews said.

Under the peace agreement, the government would have to provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in Mindanao and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels.

In 2001, Misuari’s loyal forces and former MNLF rebels who joined the Philippine Army following the September 1996 peace deal with Manila, attacked a key military base in Jolo town and civilian targets in Zamboanga City in an effort to stop the government from calling an election in the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao where Misuari was then governor.

Slippery as an eel

Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, where he had been arrested and deported to the Philippines and was eventually pardoned and released by President Gloria Arroyo in exchange for MNLF support to her election bid as well as her allies in the Senate and Congress in 2004.

Misuari, however, was also ousted by his Foreign Affairs chief Parouk Hussin, who along with Muslimin Sema, a senior leader; and other senior leaders, made up the so-called Council of 15, Mindanews said.

Sema’s group previously appointed Misuari as chairman emeritus, but he rejected the position.

Sema had criticized Misuari for pushing the MNLF into disarray. The Council of 15 also accused Misuari of being incompetent as governor of the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao.

The report said Misuari’s fall had severely affected the MNLF which is now heavily divided and rift among its leaders is becoming more apparent.

It added that Misuari also ran thrice for governor in Sulu province even while under detention, but lost miserably.

Lawyer Emmanuel Fontanilla, MNLF spokesman, had said the MNLF is continuously winning the support of Muslim and lumads in its pursuit for independence.

On August 12, 2013, Misuari declared independence from the Philippine government and announced the establishment of Bangsamoro Republik in Talipao, Sulu.

Less than a month later, about 300 MNLF fighters, led by Misuari loyalist Ustadz habier Malik, laid siege on several barangays in Zamboanga City, sparking almost a month-long armed conflict.

More than 200 MNLF fighters and soldiers were killed during the conflict.

The MNLF said that the declaration of independence was made under the authority of the United Nations General Assembly 1514 granting independence to all colonized countries.

Misuari’s move was also in protest to the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the government of the Philippines and MNLF’s breakaway faction Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Oct. 15, 2012.

Misuari also protested the plan of the Aquino government to close the tri-partite review of the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement signed by the MNLF with the government in 1996.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/misuari-holds-plenum-under-gov-t-s-nose