OIC team wants Nur with them in Jeddah talks

First posted 10:34pm (Mla time) May 22, 2006
By Jeffrey Tupas, Dennis Jay Santos
Inquirer



Editor's Note: Published on Page A13 of the May 23, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

DAVAO CITY—Officials of the influential Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) want to see jailed Moro leader Nur Misuari sitting with them in a tripartite meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in July.

Sayed Kaseem El-Masry, adviser to OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, said the presence of Misuari in the meeting is very important given the former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader’s crucial role in the implementation of the peace agreement which he signed with former President Fidel Ramos.

“We believe that Misuari plays a crucial role in the process. So we are expecting to see him during the tripartite meeting,” El-Masry said.

“We are urging the Philippine government to expedite the release of Misuari for him to participate in the process in July,” El-Masry added.

El-Masry and the entire OIC delegation expressed optimism that the government will consider their appeal.

This, after the government agreed to transfer Misuari, who is reportedly suffering from hypertension and respiratory tract infection, to a house close to St. Luke’s Hospital.

“The government graciously responded to our request for his release and transfer (on) humanitarian ground(s),” El-Masry said.

The release of Misuari, according to him, is the common concern of various civil society groups, most of them Muslims, that they met during their visit here. The OIC representatives flew to Sulu to meet with Ustadz Habier Malik, leader of the MNLF Bangsamoro Armed Forces (BAF) in Sulu.

Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, said the government is currently considering the case of Misuari.