MNLF groups back OIC stand on CAB

MANILA, Philippines - Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) factions have reunited and expressed support for the position of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that the peace agreement forged by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is a partial fulfillment of both the 1976 Tripoli and 1996 Jakarta agreements.

MNLF spokesman Emmanuel Fontanilla said the “Jeddah Formula” presented by leaders of the different MNLF factions made them reunite and strengthen their political objective of self-rule.

Fontanilla, however, said their peaceful struggle would go beyond the autonomy issue toward total Bangsamoro independence.

MNLF leaders from various factions reaffirmed their unity under the leadership of founding chairman Nur Misuari during a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last June 11.

In a statement, the MNLF leaders said the OIC welcomed the MILF acceptance of autonomy as a solution to the Bangsamoro problem, although they express reservation on some provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

The MNLF leaders though are open to pursue collaborative efforts to build on common advocacies but urged compliance with the provisions of the 1976 agreement in Tripoli, Libya and the 1996 accord in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“The MNLF leaders hope that in the new autonomy law all the provisions stipulated in the 1976 Tripoli and 1996 Jakarta agreements shall be included in all the provisions of the CAB that strengthen and enhance self-rule in Southern Philippines,” the statement read.

The statement – signed by Ustad Abdullar Abubakar, Muslimen Sema, Habid Hashim, Yahodza Simpal Hatimil Hassan, Shakirrudin Bahin, Randolf Parcasio and Mashur Jundam – called on the government to consider the holding of a plebiscite in the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to finally determine the territorial boundaries stipulated by the Tripoli agreement.

The MNLF leaders also welcomed OIC initiatives to avail themselves of the opportunity to thresh out differences, if any, with MILF leaders to continue their coordination meeting held on Dec. 6, 2011 at OIC headquarters.

Earlier, OIC secretary general Iyad Madani, during the opening of the 41st conference of foreign ministers, renewed the call for the synchronization of the MILF, CAB and MNLF accords.

Madani said the OIC secretariat spared no effort in bringing the MNLF and MILF together to establish the stand of the Islamic body on the conflict.