COTABATO CITY (November 21, 2001) – Chairman Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) today vehemently denied ordering any act of hostility against the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or the Philippine National Police (PNP) to disturb the November 26, 2001 ARMM elections.

       ARMM Executive Secretary Dr. Abdurahman Amin confirmed the Chairman’s statement adding the recent skirmishes in Sulu between the Bangsamoro Armed Forces – MNLF and the AFP were actually offshoots of AFP’s and PNP’s gross arrogance and provocative show of ground, air and naval force over and around the MNLF camp in Silangkan, which preempted MNLF mujahideen to fight back amid dangers of possible escalation not just in Sulu but in Mindanao as a whole even during this holy month of Ramadhan.

       Dr. Amin, who is also MNLF Permanent Liaison Officer to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), emphasized that issues related to Monday’s polls were incidental for the MNLF, which does not at all recognize such political exercise under RA 9054. He revealed that the “MNLF leadership maintains that the upcoming political exercise is a blatant violation of the September 2, 1996 Final Peace Agreement and a sign of disrespect to the powerful OIC.”

       It can be recalled that the OIC during the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Bamako, Mali last June adopted Resolution 29-P urging the Philippine government to “postpone the ARMM elections to year 2003 pending full implementation of the GRP-MNLF peace accord.”

       “The position of the MNLF should have been considered in matters affecting the state of ARMM as its chief executive while mere speculations of his role during the recent skirmishes are counterproductive and will not at all help resolve and already brewing political tension in the area,” Amin concluded.

REFERENCE: OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY – ARMM, Cotabato City

Tel. No. (064) 421-1227