Islamic body, Mindanao peace groups seek Nur’s release
05/21/2006
The
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and advocates of peace
in the country’s strife-torn southern Mindanao region have
jointly called for the immediate release of Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari to pave way for the
full implementation of a peace pact forged in 1996 between the
separatist Muslim group and the Government of the Republic of
the Philippines (GRP).
Egyptian
Ambassador Sayed Kassem El-Masry, head of a 16-man OIC mission
to Mindanao, last Friday said Misuari plays a significant role
in the “proper closure” of the 10-year-old GRP-MNLF peace
agreement.
“We appeal
before the Philippine government to expedite the release of MNLF
chairman Misuari. We honestly think that his participation is a
catalyst to the peace process,” El-Masry told a forum in Davao
City with various peace organizations in southern Philippines.
Misuari, who
signed the peace agreement with the government on Sept. 2, 1996,
has been granted house arrest by the Arroyo administration
although he is facing rebellion charges for allegedly leading an
attack against military troops in Sulu province in Mindanao in
2001.
El-Masry,
also adviser to the secretary general of the powerful 57-state
OIC, said Misuari is an important personality in the proposed
OIC-GRP-MNLF tripartite meeting in Baco, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in
July.
The
tripartite meeting is expected to settle the issues impeding the
realization of the agreed terms in the 1996 peace accord.
“Misuari
should attend the meeting,” El-Masry said, pointing out that it
is in the meeting that flaws in the GRP-MNLF peace agreement
will be addressed.
The OIC’s
call for Misuari’s release came earlier during its visit to
Cagayan de Oro City in nearby Misamis Oriental province last May
18, where El-Masry stressed that the peace agreement could not
move forward without the MNLF leader.
The OIC’s
appeal is seen to reflect the stance of so-called civil society
groups in relation to the peace process in Mindanao.
In their
letter of appeal read during the Davao City forum, the Mindanao
Peace Weavers, a network of peace organizations in southern
Philippines, urged the OIC to reconstitute the tripartite body,
conduct a thorough review of the peace agreement and “exhaust
all diplomatic channels possible for the Philippine government
to immediately and unconditionally release Prof. Nur Misuari
from prison.”
The letter
was signed by leaders of eight peace groups namely: Fr. Angel
Calvo of the Zamboanga Coalition of Peace Advocates, Fr. Roberto
Layson of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus, Rev. Al Senturias of the
Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement, Guiamel Alim of the Consortium
of Bangsamoro Civil Society, Gus Miclat of Initiatives for
International Dialogue, Karen Tañada of Mindanao Solidarity
Network; Timuay Melanio Ulama of Mindanao Peoples Forum and
federalist Rey Magno Teves of Mindanao Peoples Peace Advocate.
The
Philippine government, meanwhile, remains committed to uphold
the sanctity of its judicial proceeding under the constitutional
laws regarding Misuari’s rebellion case.
Presidential
adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza said ongoing hearing
against Misuari is being pursued within the statutory boundaries
of the Philippine judicial system.
A report on
the status of implementation of the GRP-MNLF final peace
agreement cited that Misuari has been accorded considerate
judicial action favorable to most of his court petitions and
motions and provided health care, including grant of an extended
medical furlough.
The court
recently granted Misuari house arrest near St. Luke’s Hospital
in Quezon City where he is undergoing medical treatment. PNA
