Manila: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) affirmed yesterday the "inclusive" scope of the framework accord that the MILF signed with the government, saying the fresh deal would not allow any sector, such as Muslims, Christians, and Lumad in the proposed Bangsamoro region, left out from the peace process.
MILF Chairman Al-Hadji Murad underscored the "inclusive" feature of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)-MILF initial accord during a press conference he held at Camp Darapanan in nearby Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao yesterday or 12 days after the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement was signed in Malacañang.
He said the MILF will pursue the intents it had agreed with the state panel which also includes the Aquino administration's offer for at least one seat for the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the Transition Commission (TransCom).
Top government officials reportedly made the offer in the face of repeated pronouncements of MNLF founding Chairman Nur Misuari, assailing the GRP-MILF framework agreement and dismissing it as a virtual breach of his group's 1996 final peace pact with the government.
At yesterday's press conference, Murad said the MILF leadership is "open" for dialogues with the MNLF and other "legitimate" Moro revolutionary groups as desired by neutral peace advocate groups and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
He clarified that reuniting the forces of the MILF and the MNLF is difficult because, he said, the latter group has been fragmented into factions with varied inclinations.
Misuari is reportedly the chairman of an MNLF faction. Another faction is the MNLF Islamic Command Council led by Habib Mujahad Hasim. Incumbent Cotabato City Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema chairs what is claimed as the "most dominant" MNLF faction in Central Mindanao.
Murad said the then united MNLF forces were given the chance to flesh out the 1996 peace agreement through the successive stewardships of Misuari and Parouk Hussin as governors of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
--Courtesy of Manila Bulletin.gif)


