Nur says gov't actions pushing MNLF to declare independence

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - The founding chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front warned that the group may opt to declare an independent republic if Malacañang pushes through with the  closure of the GRP-MNLF 1996 final peace accord to accommodate the Framework Agreement for Bangsamoro (FAB) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Misuari told newsmen in a press briefing  Thursday at his residence in this city tightly secured by his unarmed forces, disclosed that  Malacañang has sent letters to the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) seeking the closure of all agreements with MNLF.

Misuari said the OIC Secretary-General has furnished his office with the copy of the explanatory note submitted by  Malacañang dated March 21, 2013,  requesting the OIC to put a closure to the tripartite review process on the final implementation of the 1996 peace accord.

“The Philippine Government is proposing the closure of our peace process and with the closure of the peace process that means the  Philippine government will do away with the series of peace treaty agreements and on peace accord that we signed over a number of decades in our collective efforts with the participation of the OIC 57 member-states. Now they want this set aside,”  Misuari said.

Misuari warned that pursuing the closure of the MNLF peace accord will give them the option to declare independence of the Bangsamoro homeland.

“That situation will become inevitable once they push through with the closure of this (peace accord),” Misuari said. “Kasi wala na kaming pag-asa after 37 years of peace talks pagkatapos they slam the doors on us... Anong mangyayari diyan? We have to look for the option and the only option is to go to the United Nations.”

Parts of the explanatory note on  Malacañang's that the OIC has to acknowledge that Misuari is “no longer the sole representative of the Bangsamoro," and that it has to deal with the situation by tapping a  more pluralistic representation. The request also cited that the Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro (FAB) signed with the MILF on Oct. 15 last year provides an opportunity to bring lasting peace and development in Mindanao.

Misuari reiterated that the agreement with the MILF is a gross violation to the accord which the Philippines signed with the MNL.

The MNLF chairman also hit President Aquino  for turning his back on the promise of his mother - the late President Corazon Aquino - to provide an  MNLF-led homeland to Moros.

"His agreement with the MILF is a total betrayal of his mother's promise to us after we help her catapult into the presidency. He (Pnoy) was a witness to that as a young boy when we held a series of meetings with his mother and Butch Aquino," Misuari added.

The MNLF founding chair also said the MILF agreement brought divisiveness and made the situation in Mindanao to become volatile.

“I think this is one reason this region is now becoming so volatile,” Misuari said,  disclosing that the Armed Forces of the Philippines has reportedly dismantled five camps in the Zamboanga Sibugay region and redeployed them to Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi areas and even in this city.

The movement came with the reported massing of followers of Misuari following reports that he will be declaring independence Thursday which he vehemently denied.

During the conference at Misuari’s residence, it was observed the police and military forces have increased their presence, setting up checkpoints leading to the latter’s house in Barangay San Roque.

Misuari announced to the newsmen  that he had sent a letter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, seeking the deployment of peace keeping forces to monitor the alleges excessive presence of military forces in the region,  which Misuari said has caused panic and disruption of communities.

The military on the other hand denied any new redeployment of troops in the region.  - Roel Pareño