December 1, 2001 –  The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) calls for the convening of Extraordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Eight so as to urgently look into the grave situation in South Philippines.

       In a formal communication dated November 24, 2001 from Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Indonesian Foreign Minister Nur Hassan Wirajuda, the Secretary General of the OIC, Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz, expresses the Islamic body's intention of calling for the "convening of the Ministerial Committee of the Eight."

       The Ministerial Committee of the Eight comprises Saudi Arabia, Libya, Senegal, Somalia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia as Chair, and is tasked by the OIC to solve the Muslim Problem in South Philippines.

       The said Extraordinary Meeting must be participated by Prof. Nur Misuari, the Chairman of the MNLF Central Committee, which enjoys Observer Status at the OIC, wrote Dr. Belkeziz as a matter of affirming once and for all the Islamic body's recognition of the leadership and stature of Misuari.

        The meeting must be participated by the "Moro National Liberation Front under the Chairmanship of Prof. Nur Misuari, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, the Chairmanship of the Ninth Islamic Summit (State of Qatar), the Chairmanship of the Twenty-Eight Islamic Conference of the Foreign Ministers (Republic of Mali) and the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Conference," the communication numbered 3541 states.

       The purpose of the meeting, added Dr. Belkeziz, is "in order to consider the latest grave developments in the Southern Philippines and submit a report thereon to the Twenty-Ninth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers for appropriate decision."

       Dr. Belkeziz also expressed his regret for "the request of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines" contained in Vice President Guingona's letter dated August 14, 2001 and September 7, 2001 recognizing the so-called renegade MNLF members forming the Council of 15, as this is against the rules of the OIC.

       "The request can not be answered as this would be in contradiction with the OIC regulations and rules of procedures as well as with the decisions of the Islamic Conference," wrote Dr. Belkeziz.

       In their last year resolution at Bamako, Mali during the 28th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) as well as during the 27th ICFM In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and during last year Summit of Muslim Heads of State and Government in Doha, Qatar, the OIC calls for the GRP "not to unilaterally conduct the plebiscite and elections," but instead to work for a tripartite implementation of the Peace Agreement of September 2, 1996. Malacanang, however, did not respect and honor the resolutions of the OIC and went ahead with both the plebiscite and elections.##

       Reference: General Secretariat
                        Moro National Liberation Front