MNLF Peace Accord Is A Failure, Says Misuari Supporters

DAVAO CITY (Juan Magtanggol / 02 Sept) Supporters of jailed Moro National Liberation Front chieftain Nur Misuari branded as failure the peace agreement the former rebel group signed with Manila.

Misuari was granted temporary liberty by a Manila court to attend the 10th anniversary of the signing of the peace accord in Davao City. The ex-rebel leader himself described the peace deal as ill-fated.

Misuari, former governor of the five-province Muslim autonomous region, is facing rebellion charges after a failed MNLF uprising on Jolo island and Zamboanga City in 2001.

The government accused Misuari of allegedly masterminded the attacks. Misuari fled to Malaysia, where he was arrested and was deported back to the Philippines.

"We thought that the peace agreement was the way for the people of Mindanao to attain peace and development. We thought that the peace agreement will end the misery of the people. But the government decided to undo the peace agreement by unilaterally implementing it," he said as his supporters chanted his name and “Allahu Akbar,” which means Allah is great.

“You can't impose in Mindanao and we cannot allow you to impose peace on us. If you will, we will reject in cold hand," Misuari said inside the ballroom of the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

Asnar Abdula, a 53-year old former rebel, said the government reneged on its commitment to fully implement the peace agreement.

“They failed and they will always fail because the government is not sincere in really pursuing the peace. Brother Nur is right when he said that there will be no peace in Mindanao if the government continues to unilaterally impose its will on us,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.

Misuari signed a peace agreement with Manila on Sept. 2, 1996, but many rebels were disgruntled with the accord and accused the Arroyo government of reneging on the peace deal and failing to uplift the living standards of Muslims in the strife-torn Mindanao island.

Melham Alam, former chief of staff of the MNLF’s Bangsamoro Armed Forces, said the peace agreement has become an instrument to tie the hands of the Muslims and to consign them in the past tense of their existence.

“Their future is to clear their thoughts of its falsehoods and deception. The promises therein were never there and will never be. They should remember at all times that their very life is in their hands. No one begs for freedom and no one will give freedom even if asked.”

“This is the way of the enemy: you never give, you always take. On the other hand, you also do not give your freedom away especially with a mere piece of paper. The future is not also with someone who is being held a prisoner. It will be tragic to equate freedom with someone who is not free. It is true that you cannot give what you do not have. However, the rule of the game is you do not give at all because you are going to be left with nothing and you cannot or allowed to ask anymore,” he said.