Nur to lead MNLF delegation in OIC meet

MANILA, Philippines - Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari will lead a five-man delegation to the 40th session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers which will be held in Conakry, Western Africa next week.

MNLF spokesman Emmanuel Fontanilla yesterday said Misuari, believed to be in the Middle East, will report on the status of the peace process with the government during the Dec. 9-11 meeting.

“Chairman Misuari will attend the meeting,” Fontanilla said.

He, however, did not elaborate on the whereabouts of Misuari, who has a pending warrant of arrest for the deadly attack on Zamboanga City last September.

Fontanilla said as a permanent observer in the OIC, Misuari will also talk about the recent outbreak of hostilities in Zamboanga and the status of the tripartite review of the 1996 peace agreement with the government.

“Chairman Misuari is obliged to attend the yearly meeting being a permanent observer in the OIC,” Fontanilla said.

He added that a preliminary meeting will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia by senior ministers to draft the agenda of the Conakry meeting.

Meanwhile, the OIC Peace Committee on Southern Philippines (PCSP) has proposed a tripartite meeting with the government panel and the MNLF to pursue the peace process initiated by the Islamic body.

Fontanilla said the tripartite meeting is set after the 40th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.