MNLF to file petition for self-rule if...

MANILA, Philippines - The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) will file a petition for self-rule before the United Nations if the government will not comply with its 1996 peace agreement with the group, a top MNLF official said yesterday.

Emmanuel Fontanilla, MNLF spokesman, told The STAR that MNLF chairman Nur Misuari left for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for tripartite talks with the government peace panel next week to iron out the implementation of the peace accord.

“Chairman Misuari is hoping against hope that the government at this point in time will honor the internationally recognized accord or the MNLF will go back to its original political objective which is the independence of Mindanao,” he said.

Fontanilla said Misuari, in a privilege speech during the 39th Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Djibouti, called the Philippine representative a “liar” for reporting that the 1996 agreement was fully implemented.

Misuari told the 57 members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that since the government has not complied with the accord, which was brokered by the OIC, the MNLF has no option left but to elevate the case to the UN.

Misuari noted that even if only one OIC member will recognize Mindanao as an independent state the UN has to conduct a plebiscite to determine the sentiment of the people.

Fontanilla said the OIC has officially transmitted a 14-point resolution to the Department of Foreign Affairs. He said it is up to the government whether to resume talks with the MNLF.

He said Saudi Arabia has agreed to host a meeting of the government and MNLF panels for the resumption of talks this month.

Fontanilla said they see no conflict if the peace accord with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will be synchronized with the Tripoli and the 1996 peace agreement between the government and the MNLF.

“The OIC is very specific on the full implementation of the agreement it brokered in the past, and the 57-member Islamic states will be closely watching developments in Mindanao,” he said.