There are questions that must be addressed after the release of Prof. Nur Misuari from detention.  Among the questions is what safety mode  of Misuari he should act if he will not be given chance once again to run the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao? This ARMM actually is   the only legislated political instrument he can handle in order to implement the perceived un-implemented aspects of the Moro National Liberation Front and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines 1996 peace accord.

 The renewed call for the dormant Sabah claim is perceived to be the Misuari safety mode. If this is being pursued he might have an indirect back up by the GRP and on the other side, Malaysia might resort to strengthen its mutual cooperation and understanding with the GRP. The call therefore will take time to wait its outcome. On the part of Misuari, the call will moderate his pending rebellion charges despite of its adverse effect on the Muslim Filipinos in Sabah .

 Mesuari after his release was expected to lead a unified Moro National Liberation and to subsequently run the ARMM after his election once again as Regional Governor.

 The purpose of tripartite meetings of the MNLF, OIC and GRP representatives is to determine aspects of the 1996 peace accord which were not implemented and those were not included in the RA 9054, the expanded autonomy of the present ARMM,  with the hope to amend the said Act  in order to meet the demands of the MNLF. 

 However, Khaled Musa, deputy chairman of the MILF committee on information, told Luwaran that the renewed call for the Sabah claim now by Misuari, in tandem with the Sultanate of Sulu, is an issue too hot to handle and could boomerang to his leadership. 

 Musa identified two possible impressions created which can be adverse to the personality of the newly freed MNLF leader: 1) It would appear that bringing up the issue once again is an act of vengeance or retaliation to the Malaysians for turning him over to the Philippines after he defected to Sabah after a failed “rebellion” in 2001; and 2) It would create the impression that he is out on a “demolition job” related to the GRP-MILF Peace Talks, which Malaysia facilitates since 2001.

 Brother Misuari may have all the best intentions in the renewed call for the Sabah claim, but if not handled cautiously could only benefit those who want the Muslims to quarrel among themselves,” Musa stressed.

 Sabah Progressive Party President Datuk Yong Teck Lee said Malaysia ’s National Security Council (NSC) should closely watch developments in the southern Philippines with the collapse of the Moro peace deal and release of former rebel leader Nur Misuari , Malaysia ’s Star reported.

 Misuari spoke before thousands of his followers in a peace congress in Davao City on May 23-24, ending his over an hour speech with challenge to Malaysia to bring the Sabah claim to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ justice arm located in The Hague , The Netherlands.

 Among those present when Misuari made the challenge in Davao City was Hadji Akmad Bayam, a former chief propagandist of the MNLF. Bayam noted that one of the claimants to the leadership of the Sultanate of Sulu, stood beside Misuari as he delivered his speech.

 "Misuari is considered among the rightful claimants (of Sabah ) as his great-great grandfather, Panglima Maha Besar of Sulu, led the contingent that protected the Sultan of Brunei, the great-great grandfather of the present Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah," said Bayam.

  Malaysia , said Bayam, has long been apprehensive the Misuari-led MNLF would forge an alliance with the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu for the Sabah claim. "This is now happening with Misuari at the center of the issue," he added.

 "The MILF criticism on the matter is unwarranted because the claim of sovereignty and proprietary (rights) over Sabah is exclusive to the Sultanate of Sulu and its subjects to which Nur Misuari rightfully belongs," said Bayam, saying the claimants have all the aces backed by authentic historical documents.

Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin G. Sema, whom other senior MNLF leaders and commanders installed as MNLF chairman, aired great concern over Misuari’s revival of the Sabah claim.

 Sema, whose taking over of the MNLF leadership is not accepted by Misuari and his followers, "strongly appealed to Misuari not to use the Sabah issue to stir restlessness among local Muslims in Sabah and here in southern Philippines ."

 He said the Sabah claim is an old issue which should not drive a wedge between the Bangsamoro people and Malaysia .

 Even the Philippine government, Sema said, uses diplomacy and respect in dealing with the Sabah issue to preserve relations with Malaysia.  

Despite of those mentioned arguments and perceived adverse effects of the renewed call for the resting Sabah claim, Misuari, if not to run for the forthcoming August 11 election and not to be given chance to run once again the ARMM as Governor,  might  resort to such call for “security purposes."

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved