OIC to discuss Misuari fate

The Committee of Eight of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has scheduled a meeting in December to discuss the alleged rebellion of Governor Nur Misuari.

They will consider the attack of members of the forces loyal to Nur Misuari, outgoing Governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), on the Air Force, and the taking of 118 hostages in Zamboanga, southern Philippines on November 27, an Indonesian official who requested for anonymity told Gulf News.

The meeting will be held in Jakarta, the current chairman of the Committee of the Eight, said the source.

The Committee of the Eight will make a recommendation to the OIC as to whether Misuari should continue to be considered the head of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), said the source.

Earlier, ambassadors of the Committee of the Eight held a meeting in Manila on Misuari's case. They made recommendations to the foreign ministers of the Committee of the Eight, but they did not release details to the media.

Earlier, the OIC reportedly said it continued to regard Misuari as the MNLF head, despite the success of Misuari's rival Parouk Hussin as the new ARMM governor after the November 26 ARMM elections.

Hussin ousted Misuari as MNLF chairman in April this year. "The recommendation of the OIC's Committee of Eight (regarding MNLF's leadership) will be taken up during the international conference of the OIC's general assembly of foreign ministers in June," said Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Lauro Baja.

Meanwhile, Misuari remains the MNLF's official representative to the OIC and the sole representative of the Filipino Bangsamoro in the OIC, Baja said.

Without any official statement from the OIC to recognise the leadership of the 15-man council of the MNLF which ousted Misuari in April, Misuari remains the MNLF leader in the eyes of the OIC, said Philippine Foreign Assistant Secretary Victoriano Lecaros.

The MNLF represents the Philippines' Bangsamoro in the OIC and sits as an observer in the conference. Misuari is reportedly in a Malaysian jail in Sabah, following his arrest for illegal entry on November 24.

Charges of rebellion cannot be filed against Misuari on his alleged participation in the November 19 and 27 attacks in Jolo and Zamboanga City in Mindanao because he was no longer an ARMM governor when it happened, said Ombudsman Aniano Desierto.

Earlier, Arroyo removed Misuari as ARMM head following reports that he was planning to renew his armed struggle because the government did not want to postpone the November 26 ARMM elections to 2003.

So far, only 10 of the renegade MNLF members have been charged with rebellion in Zamboanga City. Misuari was not named as their mastermind. Misuari gave up his secessionist-stance when he signed the pro-autonomy government-MNLF peace settlement, which was brokered by the OIC in 1996.

Misuari's lawyer Ely Pamatong said the Moro leader cannot be classified as a terrorist because he was given a government post by former president Fidel Ramos besides being a member of the OIC. He said he would file a protest against Malaysia for holding Misuari.

Misuari "was on his way to Jeddah to complain to the OIC about the inability of the Philippine government to implement the 1996 government-MNLF peace agreement", said Pamatong.
He added Misuari wanted to say he was "not a terrorist but the one terrorised by the Philippine government".