Nur Is MNLF Chairman Again

MNLF chairman Nur Misuari. Above, MNLF Secy. Gen. Muslimen Sema. (Zamboanga Journal)

COTABATO CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 16 Feb) The Moro National Liberation Front has elected former rebel leader Nur Misuari its new chairman after dissolving the council that ousted him in 2001.

Muslimen Sema, the secretary-general of the MNLF, said efforts were under way to reorganize the former rebel group that signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996.

“Nur Misuari is indispensable to the search for peace in Mindanao and the Muslim people are clamoring for his leadership of the MNLF again,” Sema, who is also mayor of Cotabato City, told the Zamboanga Journal.

The MNLF’s Council of 15 ousted Misuari, then governor of the four-province Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, in April 2001 for failing to improve the lives of Muslims in Mindanao and for lack of confidence.

Sema was among those who ousted Misuari along with senior MNLF leaders led by Parouk Hussin, Yusop Jikiri, Hatimil Hassan, Abdul Sahrin, Alfatah Abubakar, Uttoh Salem and Manda Amilhamsa, and seven other state chairmen.

The burden of governance

But he defended Misuari’s ouster, saying: “The burden took its toll on Nur Misuari at that time because of his busy governance in the Muslim autonomous region.”
Despite his ouster, Sema’s group made Misuari chairman emeritus of the MNLF.
Sema said the MNLF Central Committee agreed to dissolve the Council of 15 and to reinstall Misuari.

He said the unification of all MNLF factions was made possible because of the continued suffering of the Muslims in Mindanao and because they believe the 1996 peace agreement is a farce.

“All MNLF elements are one in saying that the implementation of the 1996 peace agreement is a farce and far from what was envisioned of it. It is now up to the government whether to recognize the new MNLF and work together to bring peace and harmony and development in Mindanao. We will work gradually again for peace and development” he said.

Round of consultations

Sema said the MNLF will also consult the Organization of Islamic Conference about the group’s decision. The MNLF is a permanent observer in the OIC.

“The first thing we will do now is to put the MNLF as one organization, remove all the problems that beset it and get our act together and search for peace. We finally decided to bring back the MNLF as one organization under one leadership,” he said.

The decision to reinstate Misuari was the result of a series of meetings and consultations since 2004 with the MNLF leaders and members, and other organizations that split with the MNLF, including the Sabah-based Islamic Command Council and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

An appeal to the President

The MNLF has repeatedly appealed to President Arroyo to free Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges after a failed uprising in Jolo in 2001.

The 65-year-old Misuari, who is complaining of chest pains, is being treated at the Saint Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City. A court granted Misuari a 10-day medical pass together with his close associate Abuhari Usman on January 24 and extended this because of their condition.

“His doctors say more tests are needed to determine his illness, but Brother Nur is doing fine and is happy that the government allowed him to go to the hospital,” Misuari’s close aide Jamasali Abrurahman said.

Misuari has been asking the government since 2005 to grant him temporary freedom so he can have a complete medical checkup and treatment. He has complained of occasional pain in his abdomen and chest, and erratic blood pressure.

New trial venue

Misuari was also asking the Department of Justice to bring his trial to Mindanao, instead of holding him in Laguna.

He was almost granted temporary liberty last year, but other Misuari’s aides who are also detained wanted to take a mass leave for medical treatment along with Misuari.

Other senior MNLF leaders in Mindanao have asked the President to free Misuari, saying he has suffered long enough and been imprisoned without due process.
Even the MILF, the country’s largest separatist rebel group negotiating peace with Manila, has sought Misuari’s unconditional release.

Speaker Hatimil Hassan of the Muslim autonomous region also appealed to President Arroyo to free Misuari for humanitarian reasons, saying Misuari can help in the government’s peace process and reconcile the Muslims in Mindanao.

Rebellion is a heinous crime

State prosecutors said the continued incarceration of Misuari’s group is justified because hearing on their petition for bail is still pending in court, but under Philippine penal law, rebellion is considered a heinous crime.

The MNLF, under Misuari, signed a peace agreement with the government in September 1996, ending almost three decades of bloody fighting in the South.

He later became governor of the four-province Muslim autonomous region, but many MNLF members were not satisfied with the peace agreement and accused the government of failing to provide them with jobs and improve their standard of living.

Misuari later accused the government of reneging on its promise to help develop war-torn areas in Mindanao and led a failed rebellion on Jolo Island that coincided with the planned elections in the autonomous region that eventually put him out of the race.

Bloody conflict

The fighting in Mindanao left dozens of people dead and wounded and spread to Zamboanga City, where Misuari’s loyal soldiers held hostage more than 100 people, triggering three days of fierce fighting that killed many rebels and civilians. Misuari then fled to Sabah, but was arrested and deported to the Philippines and jailed.

Last month the Makati Regional Trial Court allowed Misuari to attend prayers during the ’Id al-Adha festival in the Blue Mosque in Taguig City.