MILF: Editorial -- Closing of ranks indispensable!

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (Jan 8): Editorial -- Closing of ranks indispensable!

There is no substitute for unity. This is truer – and more required -- to people who are weak, despised, and living as a minority in a country. Leaders of the MILF and MNLF were conscious of this ultimate truth even at the start. But intervening events led or forced them to separate from one another. Those were the only available options. And they are not regretting, because their parting ways were their conscious acts, processed, debated and deliberated for so long.
Certainly, as always, realization takes place later. But the hard fact is that sometimes, realization will never happen if people have not experienced the bitter pill of disunity, and how it was consistently used against them by the “enemy”.

Why and how did this realization happen? Did it come from nowhere? Did it take place in a flash?

It is a long story. It started as early as 1999 when the late MILF Chairman Salamat Hashim and MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari met in Barira, Maguindanao. In the presence of the Libyan ambassador, they discussed ways to help one another in pursuing the cause of the Bangsamoro people. But no tangible progress happened afterward. The devils are in the details, so to speak. The most difficult issue to tackle was how to unite: either through one monolithic organization or a unity in diversity.

The prodding of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as well as states like Malaysia, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, really worked wonder for this current unification effort. But the good share of the credit must go to the leaders of the two Fronts, for without their selflessness and statesmanship, no unity can happen. After all, they and their respective constituents will reap the benefits.

Today, the MILF and MNLF continue to work hard for this unity. On January 6, a huge gathering of MILF and MNLF leaders of Chair Yusoph Jikiri was convened in Palembang in the province of Sultan Kudarat. The aim of assembly is to bring down to the grassroots the message of unity and solidarity, so that they in turn will have to adopt appropriate measures for their implementation and realization.

The terms of reference (TOR) of the Bangsamoro Coordinating Forum (BCF) signed between MNLF Chair Nur Misuari and MILF Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim on May 18, 2010 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan provided, among others, that unity is indispensable to the success of the Bangsamoro struggle and that there are no basic differences between the Fronts as both are seeking to achieve peace, justice, and a fair solution to the problems of the Bangsamoro people.

There were other subsequent agreements, all for the purpose of helping one another especially with Yusoph Jikiri wing of the MNLF. They are responding exceptionally well to the call of unity and cooperation.

Also currently, political leaders and ground commanders of the MILF and MNLF, this time identified with Chairman Nur Misuari, are conducting joint dialogues and consultations in Sulu and Basilan. All are aimed at increasing understanding and cooperation between the organizations, or at least among the leaders on the ground.

There are similar efforts ongoing in other provinces especially in Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Zamboanga. The spaces are expanding.

To be frank, the best legacy and in fact the most noble, after securing the various agreements with government such as the GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement of 1996 and the GPH-MILF Comprehensive Agreement in 2014, the current leaders of MNLF and MILF can bequeath to the next generations of Moros is unity and cooperation anchored on truly Islamic spirit and brotherhood. Wealth can be squandered, knowledge can be misused, but a truly united people can overcome all obstacles that stand on their way. In unity there is strength.

http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1150/closing-of-ranks-indispensable-