Misuari offers to link with MILF, rejects Abu Sayyaf

MANILA, 6 November— Officials yesterday urged Nur Misuari to drop his plan of resuming his war for independence and to respect the polls that would give others a chance to lead the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Malacañang Palace also issued a veiled warning as Misuari offered to align his faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) with the bigger Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

During the 5th National Bangsamoro Assembly held in Silangkan, Sulu over the weekend, Misuari told his 1,000-strong armed followers and others present that he was just waiting for an invitation from the MILF to rejoin the struggle.

Misuari had told reporters in Sulu that he was being urged by some Muslim countries to unite with the MILF and soon.

"If they (MILF) will try to convince us to fight for independence, then I will go back to the (assembly) just like that," he said, snapping his fingers.

Misuari, whose loss of the MNLF chairmanship was partly engineered by a Malacañang-backed faction of the organization, urged his followers to be ready for any provocation "by elements of the Philippine government."

"(There is a) very, very narrow option left for us," he said.

The MILF until the late ‘70s was part of the MNLF, but Salamat Hashim, then Misuari’s vice chairman, decided to form another group in pursuit of what he termed was the appropriate revolution for the Moro people.

Although the MILF is currently in peace talks with the government, it has not stopped its armed struggle.

Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman, confirmed efforts by both groups to forge some sort of unity. He said the MILF sent a delegation to the assembly upon Misuari’s invitation.

The MILF delegation, Misuari later admitted, had handed him a letter from Hashim that indicated the MILF’s commitment "to the long-awaited demand of the people for the two fraternal organizations to unite."

Kabalu said: "They expressed their support for us, but there are so many ways for them to help achieve our goal. One does not have to go to the battlefield and fight."

In Manila, presidential spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said President Arroyo would appeal to Misuari to honor the holding of elections on Nov. 26 in the ARMM, of which Misuari is the current governor.

The administration is backing Parouk Hussin, head of the 15-man committee that replaced Misuari as MNLF chair, as its candidate for governor in the ARMM.

Tiglao said the government was prepared to throw the book at Misuari should he refuse to step down as ARMM governor.

Tiglao said President Gloria Arroyo might even personally campaign for Hussin.

"Obviously we will have to follow the Constitution and the law," said Tiglao.

"We hope not," Tiglao replied, when asked about the prospect of a new war of secession to be led by Misuari, founding chair of the MNLF.

Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, the military commander in Mindanao, said he the military was prepared to counter any move by Misuari to resume war.

No to Abu Sayyaf

During the Sitangkan assembly, Misuari said any Muslim reunification would not include the Abu Sayyaf, the rebel-cum-terrorist group that has made kidnapping for ransom its main activity.

"How can we allow the Abu Sayyaf to join us when what they are doing is against Islamic law?" he said.

Misuari said he has consulted Islamic scholars about the Abu Sayyaf, but none of them could justify the group’s activities.

"Is there anything in the Shariah, in the Qur’an, that can justify this kidnapping for ransom and beheading? The scholars said there was none, that this was invented by people hostile to Islam who are making it appear that this is justified in the Islamic religion, but it’s not," he said.