Islamic Summit calls on two Moro rebel groups to unite

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has called on the two Moro rebel groups to unite for the welfare of the Bangsamoro (Muslim nation) people. The call was contained in a resolution passed during the 11th session of the Islamic Summit held in Dhakar, Senegal on March 13 to 14. Both the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were advised "to combine their efforts to work for peace and development of the Bangsamoro people." Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator, told BusinessWorld that both groups were invited to attend the summit. He said for MILF, a "position letter" was sent informing the OIC of the status of the "Bangsamoro in Mindanao" and the current state of the more than 10-year peace talks with the government. In its statement, the OIC "also took note of the ongoing negotiations between the Philippine government and the MILF, which it "hopes [will have] a positive outcome." The OIC brokered the peace talks between the MNLF and the government in 1996, and recognized the MNLF as the representative of the Bangsamoro people. However, the MILF, a breakaway group of the MNLF, has since emerged as the biggest armed Muslim group fighting for a separate Islamic state in Mindanao and is now on the final stage in signing the ancestral domain agreement with the government. The government has earlier urged the two groups to talk. "The two of them would have to talk because they will represent the Bangsamoro autonomous government. There could not be separate Bangsamoro concepts of the MNLF and MILF," Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita earlier said. Tighter security Meanwhile, the military has beefed up security measures in the battled-scarred province of Sulu following a clash with the Abu Sayyaf group on Friday, military officials said. The Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), said Marines engaged in a fire fight a band of Abu Sayyaf that led to the killing of Nelson Bin Ricson, an alleged Abu Sayyaf commander in the village of Pansul in Patikul town. The 15-minute shooting also resulted in the recovery of several firearms and ammunition and some documents. Ricson was believed to be under the command of Radulan Sahiron, who has been on the United States’ wanted terrorists list. Marine Brig. Gen. Juancho M. Sabban, the new commander of the anti-terrorist Joint Task Force Comet, said there is a standing order that operations against Abu Sayyaf will not be suspended even during special holidays such as Christmas. Lt. Gen. Nelson N. Allaga, WestMinCom chief, has earlier ordered no let-up in pursuing the Abu Sayyaf even during last week’s observance of the Lenten season that ended Sunday. Military stations in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi have been ordered to rescue two kidnapped victims from the Abu Sayyaf. In Tawi-Tawi, a rescue mission was launched for Omar Taup, a teacher of Notre Dame School in Tabawan, South Ubian, who was hostaged by the Abu Sayyaf after the murder of Fr. Jesus Reynaldo A. Roda on Jan. 15. Troops in Sulu are pursuing a band of Abu Sayyaf holding a Chinese businesswoman, earlier identified as Ma. Rosalie Lao. She was abducted allegedly by the Abu Sayyaf on Jan. 28 while walking outside her house in downtown Jolo. The rescue attempt for Ms. Lao on Feb. 4 angered Sulu residents after the military allegedly killed seven civilians and an off-duty Army integree in the coastal village of Ipil in Maimbung town. Survivors claimed there was no Abu Sayyaf member in their area and the incident was a "massacre." The Commission on Human Rights’ regional office earlier described the incident as an attack against "sleeping residents" and not against the Abu Sayyaf. The commission also recommended the filing of criminal charges against the soldiers based on its investigation. — Darwin T. Wee, BusinessWorld