MILF consultations fortify Moro nation’s Islamic foundation

CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Jan. 26, 2011—A member of the peace negotiating panel of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) yesterday said that the ongoing MILF consultations “allow the masses of our people to take part in the decision-making mechanisms that propels the struggle for self-determination and freedom.”

Therefore, such consultations “fortify the Islamic foundations of the Moro Nation,” said Robert Maulana “Bobby” Marohombsar Alonto.

“This is a democratic process in keeping with the Islamic polity of the Front: to consult the Bangsamoro on a very important matter wherein the future of the Bangsamoro nation is what is at stake,” he said.

The MILF Central Committee and peace panel started on January 25 its consultation-meeting with various sectors of the Moro society, including its political and military leaders.

The consultation which is taking place in Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, will end on February 4.

Darapanan was once one of the top camps of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the military wing of the MILF. It is now the center of peace-making and dialogue being the administrative base of the MILF where the offices of its peace panel and the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) are officially located.

Aside from top military and political leaders of the Moro nation, the MILF will also consult with sub-national /Muslim tribal representatives such as Maguindanao, Maranaw, Lupah Sug, Yakan, and other multi-sectoral leaders from the different parts of the Bangsamoro homeland.

“One day has been allocated for the Morocivil society groups and the Moro youths, who have been fearless and honest enough to ventilate their collective opinion at a time when the resumption of talks seemed nil. Indeed, it has almost been a year since peace talks were held. The last time was on July 3, 2010 under the Arroyo regime. Now, it’s gonna be with the new dispensation under Aquino. Many developments have happened in the interval. That’s why the MILF, true to its policy of shurah or consultation, is holding this consultation,” Alonto said.

In its website luwaran.com, a report quoted MILF Secretariat chair Muhammad Ameen as saying that the consultation dialogue will be made up of four sessions corresponding to the four major regions of Mindanao where the MILF has solid presence.

The theme of the consultation is “Building on the gains of the peace process.”

The dialogue is not open to the public and no media is allowed to cover the proceeding.

Ameen also disclosed that the MILF peace panel has officially informed the Philippine government about these series of consultations through an official letter sent through GPH-MILF peace negotiation facilitator Datuk Othman bin Abd’ Razak. (Bong D. Fabe)