MNLF leaders divided on gov’t peace effort

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) central committee and the group aligned with the faction of Nur Misuari are divided on the peace initiatives of the government.

The MNLF central committee signed a resolution supporting government’s efforts in merging the  MNLF’s 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA) with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)’s Bangsamoro Framework Agreement.

The forum was initiated by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the regional office of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), to inform MNLF leaders that the government has abided with the policies of the 1996 final peace accord, which was signed 17 years ago by then President Fidel Ramos and Misuari.

An MNLF faction under Habib Mujahab Hashim, who supports the group of Misuari, described the efforts as a “divide and rule” tactic to destabilize the MNLF in favor of the proposed Bangsamoro Framework Agreement.

Hashim said although their group did not support the resolution of their leaders, they would sit down and listen to their explanations.

The resolution, which will be furnished to the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Office of the President and ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, was signed during the MNLF senior leaders’ forum held in this city Sunday.

Among the signatories were Yusop Jikiri, presiding chairman of the MNLF senior leaders’ forum, and the acting secretaries of the forum, Abuamri Taddik and Abebakrin Lukman.

The resolution affirmed to sustain the advocacy of the MNLF senior leaders and commanders to the primacy of the 1996 final peace agreement and the current GRP-MNLF and OIC Tripartite Implementation Review of the accord.

The leaders expressed support for the continuity of the final peace accord and its implementation, but with the condition that the government clarify, define and recall the note verbal closure of the tripartite review that was conveyed by the Foreign Affairs Secretary to the OIC last March 21.

The note verbal had prompted Misuari to declare an independent Bangsamoro state following a series of dialogues with his followers and leaders in Sulu.