OIC eyes fact-finding mission to Mindanao

The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) is set to send a fact-finding mission to look into the June 11 encounter between government troops and a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Datu Piang, Maguindanao.

Officials of the world’s biggest Muslim group, however, are still awaiting the Philippine government’s approval for the sending of a team of investigators to Mindanao.

Indonesia, which chairs the OIC Committee of Eight, had recommended the sending of the mission. The proposal was taken into consideration by the OIC during a the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Sudan last June 25.

"They are leaving it up to the Philippine government to decide. They want Manila to have the final say on the position of the Committee of Eight," a source said.

Sources claimed that the government had asked for a clear terms of reference that will name the members of the fact-finding panel before approving the OIC recommendation to step into the conflict between the military and the MNLF faction.

"They wanted to know the extent of the OIC participation before giving the go-signal. It is still open-ended, no date has been given," one source said.

The encounter between the military and MNLF group in Datu Piang resulted in the death of nine rebels and two soldiers. Muslim commander Abdulrakman Totin had declared war on the government for its alleged failure to implement a 1996 peace agreement.

Totin, however, reportedly agreed to end hostilities pending a joint probe by the government, the MNLF and the OIC.