Moro Islamic Liberation Front chieftain Murad Ebrahim during a news conference Saturday, February 5, 2011 in the southern Philippines. (Mark Navales - Mindanao Examiner Photo).COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 5, 2011) - A top Muslim rebel commander blamed by Manila for deadly attacks in the restive southern region of Mindanao has broken away with the Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Ameril Umbra Kato who led rebel forces in the 2008 attacks in Mindanao has taken with him several dozens of followers and talks are going on to win him back ahead of the MILF’s peace negotiations with the government.
“There is an ongoing effort to convince him to return to the MILF and we hope his group will come back to us,” said Eid Kabalu, a rebel spokesman.
Kabalu did not say why the rebel leader split, but Kato is a known hardcore leader of the MILF and wanted to pursue independence for Muslims in Mindanao.
The MILF is currently negotiating peace with the Aquino government and talks are expected to resume next week in Malaysia which is brokering the negotiations aimed at ending decades of bloody rebellion.
The rebel group originally was fighting for the establishment of a separate Islamic state in the largely Catholic region of Mindanao, which was formerly under the Muslim rule.
The MILF said it is willing to sign a political deal that would give about four million Muslims in the southern Philippines their own autonomous government and control over its vast natural resources. (Mindanao Examiner)
Ameril Umbra Kato who led rebel forces in the 2008 attacks in Mindanao has taken with him several dozens of followers and talks are going on to win him back ahead of the MILF’s peace negotiations with the government.
“There is an ongoing effort to convince him to return to the MILF and we hope his group will come back to us,” said Eid Kabalu, a rebel spokesman.
Kabalu did not say why the rebel leader split, but Kato is a known hardcore leader of the MILF and wanted to pursue independence for Muslims in Mindanao.
The MILF is currently negotiating peace with the Aquino government and talks are expected to resume next week in Malaysia which is brokering the negotiations aimed at ending decades of bloody rebellion.
The rebel group originally was fighting for the establishment of a separate Islamic state in the largely Catholic region of Mindanao, which was formerly under the Muslim rule.
The MILF said it is willing to sign a political deal that would give about four million Muslims in the southern Philippines their own autonomous government and control over its vast natural resources. (Mindanao Examiner)
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