Ameril Umra Kato. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Romy Elusfa)
MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 29, 2011) – The Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front is likely to disown a renegade commander accused as behind the series of deadly attacks in Mindanao in 2008.
“The decision will come out after the holy month of Ramadan. The MILF will finally decide on the fate of Kato,” Von Al-Haq, a rebel spokesman, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Al-Haq was referring to Ameril Umra Kato who split with the MILF and is now threatening the peace talks between the rebel group and the Aquino government.
“Once the MILF disowns Kato, it would all be up to the Philippine government what to do with him,” he said, adding the renegade leader has formed his own rebel group.
Kato had led rebel forces in attacking civilian targets after the peace negotiators failed to sign a Muslim homeland deal in 2008 after the Supreme Court declared the accord unconstitutional.
Because of the attacks, police and military authorities have launched an operation to capture him, but Katao managed to elude arrest by hiding inside MILF areas, security officials said.
But not the MILF said it would not offer safe refuge to Kato. “We will not allow him to stay in our areas or camps. He is no longer welcome in MILF areas,” Al-Haq said.
Kato has repeatedly criticized MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim for abandoning their struggle for independence. He said also betrayed the rebels when he agreed to a secret meeting called by President Benigno Aquino in Japan earlier in August.
“Murad corrupted the rights of the Bangsamoro people,” Kato said, adding the MILF chieftain should have consulted his leaders before meeting with Aquino.
He claimed to have thousands of armed followers and supporters, but Al-Haq said Kato only has about a hundred members.
Kato has repeatedly said his group called the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement would pursue an independent Muslim state in Mindanao, home to some four million Muslims in a region of about 18 million mostly Christian inhabitants.
Manila proposed a wider Muslim autonomy to the MILF, but the rebel group said it would only agree on a sub-state in Mindanao. The MILF said it the government should let the Muslim run their own affairs.
The MILF previously branded the five-province Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao as a failure. The region has been rocked by corruption scandals and remains as one of the poorest in the country.
It previously called on the government to amend the Constitution that would allow the creation of a Muslim sub state in Mindanao. Aquino’s allies in Congress are now pushing for the amendment of the Constitution, saying, there is a need to change many provisions in the Charter that would benefit the country’s economy, among others. (Mindanao Examiner)
“The decision will come out after the holy month of Ramadan. The MILF will finally decide on the fate of Kato,” Von Al-Haq, a rebel spokesman, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Al-Haq was referring to Ameril Umra Kato who split with the MILF and is now threatening the peace talks between the rebel group and the Aquino government.
“Once the MILF disowns Kato, it would all be up to the Philippine government what to do with him,” he said, adding the renegade leader has formed his own rebel group.
Kato had led rebel forces in attacking civilian targets after the peace negotiators failed to sign a Muslim homeland deal in 2008 after the Supreme Court declared the accord unconstitutional.
Because of the attacks, police and military authorities have launched an operation to capture him, but Katao managed to elude arrest by hiding inside MILF areas, security officials said.
But not the MILF said it would not offer safe refuge to Kato. “We will not allow him to stay in our areas or camps. He is no longer welcome in MILF areas,” Al-Haq said.
Kato has repeatedly criticized MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim for abandoning their struggle for independence. He said also betrayed the rebels when he agreed to a secret meeting called by President Benigno Aquino in Japan earlier in August.
“Murad corrupted the rights of the Bangsamoro people,” Kato said, adding the MILF chieftain should have consulted his leaders before meeting with Aquino.
He claimed to have thousands of armed followers and supporters, but Al-Haq said Kato only has about a hundred members.
Kato has repeatedly said his group called the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement would pursue an independent Muslim state in Mindanao, home to some four million Muslims in a region of about 18 million mostly Christian inhabitants.
Manila proposed a wider Muslim autonomy to the MILF, but the rebel group said it would only agree on a sub-state in Mindanao. The MILF said it the government should let the Muslim run their own affairs.
The MILF previously branded the five-province Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao as a failure. The region has been rocked by corruption scandals and remains as one of the poorest in the country.
It previously called on the government to amend the Constitution that would allow the creation of a Muslim sub state in Mindanao. Aquino’s allies in Congress are now pushing for the amendment of the Constitution, saying, there is a need to change many provisions in the Charter that would benefit the country’s economy, among others. (Mindanao Examiner)
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