Manila: Nur Misuari, chairman-emeritus of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), has warned of possible complications if the Philippine government proceeds with the signing of a “framework agreement” with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

In an interview over radio station dzRH, Misuari said the government has an earlier agreement with the MNLF concerning the grant of autonomy to several Muslim areas in Mindanao.

According to Misuari, the impending agreement between the MILF and the government violate provisions of a series of pacts made by past administrations.

The MNLF signed a peace pact with the Ramos government in 1996 in exchange for autonomy, 16 years later the MILF will be formalising the affirmation of a similar agreement with the administration of President Benigno Aquino.

Habib Mujahab Hashim, chairman of the MNLF Islamic Command Council, said if the Aquino administration proceeds with the signing of a framework agreement with the MILF, it will in effect abrogate the 1996 Peace Agreement and thus, there would be nothing to prevent the MNLF from reverting to armed struggle.

“They should have first declared this abrogated and abrogate it officially before entering into another agreement,” Hashim was quoted by radio station dzMM as saying.

Asked by Gulf News in a text message if the framework agreement can be challenged, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said: “no chance”.

He said the impending peace agreement has the support of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) which Iqbal claimed will be attending the formal signing ceremony on Monday in Manila.

Aquino, during the recent affirmation of the Framework Agreement, had described the MNLF-government Peace Agreement of 1996 as a “failed experiment”.

International support

Meanwhile, the framework agreement between the Aquino administration and the MILF continue to gather support from other governments.

“This agreement is a testament to the commitment of all sides for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the southern Philippines. The next steps will be to ensure that the framework agreement is fully implemented. We encourage all parties to work together to build peace, prosperity and greater opportunities for all the people of the Philippines.”

Japan said the framework pact “is an important first step toward the realisation of the final agreement concerning the Mindanao peace process,” while giving assurance of its continued support to the development of the southern main island.

“Japan would like to continue to lend its full support to the Mindanao peace process through the dispatch of experts on development to the International Monitoring Team (IMT), the intensive implementation of economic cooperation projects in former conflict-affected areas (Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD)), the participation in the International Contact Group (ICG) on the peace talks, and other methods,” it said.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said his country is committed to contributing to peace and security in Mindanao through support for basic education, governance reforms and strengthening community resilience by working with local government, security forces, citizens and civil society groups on conflict resolution.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague expressed optimism that “the agreement has the potential finally to end the long-running conflict. Full implementation of the agreement by 2016 can bring about peace, security, and development. That will be good not only for Mindanao, but for the whole of the Philippines.”

Other countries and international bodies that expressed solidarity with the government and the MILF on the impending framework agreement include Switzerland, Indonesia, the European Union, the United Nations as well as Malaysia which played a key role as third party peace negotiator.

The peace process in southern Philippines between the government and the MILF had been initiated during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.