Moro National Liberation Front
Encyclopedia
The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) is a political organization that was founded by Nur Misuari
in 1969. The MNLF struggles against the Philippine Government (GPH) to achieve independence of the Bangsamoro
Land (or Bangsamoro Nation, or Mindanao Nation). The MNLF-GPH Peace Process is ongoing since the 1976 and both parties are working together to negotiate the terms and conditions of the legal framework and implementation of genuine autonomy as a peaceful path towards independence . As defined by the MNLF, the territory of Bangsamoro Land covers Sulu
, Mindanao
and Palawan
, or otherwise known as MINSUPALA. Bangsamoro Land is also known as Southern Philippines and it has 25 Provinces
.
MNLF is internationally recognized since 1977 as an observer member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC, formerly the Organisation of the Islamic Conference), the largest sub-cluster in the United Nations
with 56-member States & 2nd largest after UN. The Philippine Government also requested for similar recognition as observer member but was denied by the OIC.
which affirms, promotes, or characterizes a principled belief in the equality of all people in the political, economic, social, and civil rights aspects regardless of differences in religion, race, ethnic origin, age, and gender." MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari mentioned the "Egalitarian State" in one of his interviews. Contrary to the notion that MNLF is an Islamic Organization, the fact is, the MNLF is composed of Muslims, Christians, tribal Lumads, and any other religions who respect each other under the harmony of religious tolerance.
has a civil society that is tolerant to political and religious differences, the government is accountable to the citizens, and the media is independent. Open Society has a free market scenario, less government bureaucracy. In an Open Society, there is a quick and fair processing and replacement of government employees, officers, and politicians who are complained with corruption."
"In an open society, services traditionally ruled by monopolistic government, oligarchy
, and plutocracy
will be newly participated in by a wide range of private sector business entities. Under a free market scenario of open society, if service is slow, corrupt, unfair, or inefficient in one shop, then people are given opportunities and choice to go to the next shop to get satisfaction of a better service."
Misuari is the only person in the Bangsamoro Land who is distinguished as a certified United Nations Peace Prize Awardee; Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nominee; Awardee of Felix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize. He is one of the few individuals that have acquired an international reputation on account of their major contribution to the promotion of peace, democracy and human rights.
Despite the final peace agreement, Misuari was charged of rebellion over an alleged attack on a Philippine military camp in Sulu in 2001, an attack which he denied and the MNLF denied. Nur Misuari became a political prisoner on charges of rebellion from 2001-2009 during the regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
and the Court acquitted him in 2009 because the prosecution was unable to produce sufficient evidence.
"This Doctrine unites the MNLF members. This is like an unspoken oath, and an unwritten doctrine. A person on his own free will becomes one with the MNLF by just understanding and declaring himself a believer of the ONE MNLF Doctrine. A person's affiliation with the MNLF automatically terminates from the perception of any other Genuine MNLF at any point when the member stops believing in the ONE MNLF Doctrine."
This One MNLF Doctrine can be read in all appointment papers of the Officers and Mujahideens of the MNLF, a sample copy can be requested from the Director of Advocacy Communication of the MNLF that can be found at the Official MNLF Blogsite.
Mindanao
became a land for new beginnings when broad tracts of land were given away by the Philippine government from 1903 to the 1970s to migrants from other parts of the country in a so-called Homestead Program. There was no land titling system by the natives of Mindanao at that time. The Philippine government took advantage of the absence of land titles to give away lots in Mindanao to poor farmers and other migrants from other parts of the country. Mindanao saw itself as the adopted home of a rapidly burgeoning population of Christian settlers who rapidly encroached on the living areas of the original Muslim and tribal residents, who now began to feel that they were also being robbed of their lands and the economic opportunities they provided.
With that systematic encroachment, the natives, especially the original Muslim and Lumad segments, developed a deep-seated distrust of the officials of the Philippine government, a government under which they felt they were being treated as second-class citizens. As a result of the systematic land grabbing, sporadic fighting in various parts of Mindanao ensued between the natives and the troops/militias of the Philippine government. Due to this, Mindanao become a battle ground of intense armed conflict, even the Americans sent forces to battle frontiers in Mindanao.
During the 1970s, President Ferdinand Marcos formed the ILAGA and CHDF (Civilian Home Defense Force). ILAGA is a Christian militia which claims to defend Christians from attacks perpetrated by Muslims. The ILAGA was one of the groups who fiercely fought against the MNLF. The ILAGA members were indoctrinated with religious motivation and it is rumored that the ILAGA had a reputation for cannibalism. After over three decades, in the year 2011, the ILAGA embraced the egalitarian ideology of MNLF and have joined forces with their used to be mortal enemy—the MNLF.
According to the Official MNLF Blogsite, "in 18 March 1968, between 14 to 68 Filipino Muslim military trainees were massacred in Corregidor by soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under its Commander in Chief President Ferdinand Marcos
. It was popularly called the Jabidah Massacre
. The impact was an outrage among the Muslims in Mindanao especially those who are from Sulu where these military trainees were recruited. Not taking this lightly, Nur Misuari, a University of the Philippines professor rose to become the leader of this outraged group and he founded the Moro National Liberation Front in 1969. After a few months of setting up the organizational, in 1970, the MNLF officially proclaimed itself a political party. After recruiting sufficient number of armed freedom fighters, the MNLF launched a protracted armed struggle."
"At that time of the conception of the MNLF, it recruited members with an original objective of regaining the independence of the Bangsamoro People and separate its sovereignty from the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRPH)."
"The MNLF proclaimed itself a Mindanao liberation movement and proceeded to start the insurgency against the dictatorship of then President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The seven years (1969-1976) of intense armed conflict between MNLF and the GRPH resulted in the deaths of thousands of government soldiers and MNLF freedom fighters, as well as the displacement of thousands of families all across the Bangsamoro Land."
"Another important event in the MNLF history is the Tacbil Mosque Massacre. In 24 September 1974, a total of 1776 innocent and unarmed Moslem churchgoers were massacred by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Malisbong, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao. While the muslims were praying, they were sprayed with bullets by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. , a marker in the massacre site reads:"
(MILF), Abu Sayyaf
Group (ASG), New People's Army
(NPA), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) are among the groups around the world that have subjected minors to the most brutal violence, such as killings, maimings, rapes and other sexual assaults. In the said report, the MNLF is not mentioned as a human rights violator. Despite its huge number of armed freedom fighters, the MNLF under Nur Misuari has consistently maintained the discipline and integrity of its men and commitment to the Peace Agreement.
In a separate corroborating report, the State Department of the United States of America also had a 2009 Human Rights Report and it did not mention the MNLF as a violator.
On October 28, 2011, the Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo admitted that some members of the Abu Sayyaf are related to members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and even government officials.
The three factors make the MNLF human-rights-abuse-free are (1) its rules of engagement, (2) self-reliance, and (3) hazing-free initiation.
(MILF) in 1976 which was led by Hashim Salamat. The MILF separated from MNLF for two reasons: (1) MILF believes that the Bangsamoro Land should be an Independent Islamic State, and (2) the Bangsamoro Freedom Fighters should not negotiate with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. The first and original name of MILF was "New MNLF". The MNLF believes that the MILF was formed as a result of the infiltration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and strategic move to "divide-and-conquer" the MNLF. The MNLF believes that the MILF is being used by the AFP in False Flag Operations. Hashim Salamat died in 2003 at age 61, new leadership took over and the organization still exists . The only one GPH administration that negotiated with the MILF is the Arroyo Administration and the peace talk workload was inherited by the Aquino Administration. There are international observers who classify MILF as a Terrorist Organization, such as the Council on Foreign Relations. However, the US Department of State did not include the MILF in the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations . Despite MILF killing of many Philippine soldiers and policemen, the Philippine Government admitted that it is funding the MILF . The MNLF disapproves the idea that GPH is negotiating with the MILF. The MNLF believes that it will be more efficient for the MILF to just return back to its mother organization the MNLF. While the MILF leaders insists on negotiating with the GPH, the MILF troops on the ground have gradually begun to return back to the MNLF.
Group led by Khadaffy Janjalani in 1991. This group was originally part of the so-called National Islamic Command Council (NICC) which was an Anti-Misuari group led by Melham Alam, the MNLF's sacked Chief of Staff in 1990. It was NICC who burned the Town of Ipil in April 1995. Abu Sayyaf is intolerant to other religions and called for continuous Jihad to pursue a pure Islamic State and believes in the "killing of enemies" and "depriving them of their wealth" (kidnap for ransom). The MNLF believes that the Abu Sayyaf was formed as a result of the black operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to smear dirt on the face of Islam and scare the people against the Muslims. The MNLF believes that the Abu Sayyaf enjoyed the support of the AFP. Khadaffy Janjalani died in 18 December 1998, new leadership took over and the organization still exists .
Heavy fightings started in 1970 and the first peace talk was in 1976. The GRPH, after losing many soldiers in six years of fighting with the MNLF, coupled with the economic crisis brought about by oil embargo imposed by the OIC, decided to initiate a move to convince Nur Misuari to sit on a negotiation table for a peace talk. Desperate of being unable to convince Misuari, President Marcos sent his first lady Imelda Marcos to Tripoli Libya to request the assistance of Muammar al-Gaddafi
to broker a ceasefire and peace negotiation between GRPH and MNLF. In 1976, Gaddafi played a very big role in successfully brokered Nur Misuari and President Marcos to sign an international treaty called the 1976 MNLF-GRPH Tripoli Agreement. The treaty was witnessed and recognized by the OIC.
The 1976 Tripoli agreement provided for a general ceasefire and called for autonomy under the broad principle that Mindanao would remain an integral part of the Republic of the Philippines. After thirteen years, the 1989 Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Organic Act was enacted into a law, wherein thirteen provinces (eight of which had Christian majorities) were proclaimed subject to the provisions of the agreement, which allowed Muslims their own courts, schools and administrative system. In 1996, the MNLF-GRPH signed a Final Peace Agreement, which provides that the Autonomous Region for Muslims would have a legislative assembly, executive council, special regional security forces, and economic and financial system.
Despite the signing of the Tripoli Agreement of 1976, the fighting still continued on the ground between the AFP of President Marcos and the MNLF because of the absence of a clear guideline on the implementing rules and regulation of the Tripoli Agreement.
After securing the 1976 Tripoli Agreement, Marcos went ahead and held a referendum, which seemed to indicate opposition to the inclusion of certain provinces, opposition to the degree of autonomy presumably wanted by the MNLF and support for Marcos’ plan for two autonomous regions with 10 provinces under central control. The initial ceasefire, which was beneficial to Misuari as it gave his battle-weary troops time to rest (an opportunity welcomed with equal relief by the Armed Forces of the Philippines), eventually worked against the MNLF's interests. While the MNLF was relaxing, the AFP infiltrated it with a "divide-and-conquer" strategy. As a result, in 1976, the MNLF suffered from internal factionalism as disagreements between moderates and conservatives. In 1981, the internal differences has finally caused the birth of a more extremist Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) faction to officially break off from the MNLF. The existence of the MILF translates into a continuing insurgency confronting the GRPH.
In this agreement, the GRPH is mandated to authorize the MNLF to carry their firearms within MNLF identified areas; and GRPH may carry their firearms only in the performance of their official functions. The GRPH shall also authorize the MNLF VIPs to carry sidearms and shall provide additional security when moving in urban areas outside the MNLF zones.
Meanwhile, on the GRPH side, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) formed a legal panel represented the MNLF, GRP and mediated by the OIC. The legal panel has now completed and initialed the final agreement on revising RA 9054 and it moves forward into Congress for revision/replacement of RA 9054 to create a genuine autonomy.
The administration of President Noynoy Aquino framework of program for Mindanao is spelled out in Mindanao 2020. Pres. Aquino said that "Mindanao will be at the core of our social development and poverty alleviation programs."
Nur Misuari
Nur Misuari is a moro politician and former leader of the Moro National Liberation Front. He completed his education through academic scholarships at the University of the Philippines and became a student activist...
in 1969. The MNLF struggles against the Philippine Government (GPH) to achieve independence of the Bangsamoro
Bangsamoro
The term Bangsamoro refers to a people who are natives or original inhabitants of the island of Mindanao and its adjacent islands in the Philippines, including Palawan and the Sulu archipelago at the time of conquest or colonization...
Land (or Bangsamoro Nation, or Mindanao Nation). The MNLF-GPH Peace Process is ongoing since the 1976 and both parties are working together to negotiate the terms and conditions of the legal framework and implementation of genuine autonomy as a peaceful path towards independence . As defined by the MNLF, the territory of Bangsamoro Land covers Sulu
Sulu
Sulu is an autonomous island province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Jolo and occupies the middle group of islands of the Sulu Archipelago, between Basilan and Tawi-Tawi...
, Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
and Palawan
Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
, or otherwise known as MINSUPALA. Bangsamoro Land is also known as Southern Philippines and it has 25 Provinces
Provinces of the Philippines
The Provinces of the Philippines are the primary political and administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 80 provinces at present, further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region, as well as independent cities, are autonomous from any provincial...
.
MNLF is internationally recognized since 1977 as an observer member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC, formerly the Organisation of the Islamic Conference), the largest sub-cluster in the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
with 56-member States & 2nd largest after UN. The Philippine Government also requested for similar recognition as observer member but was denied by the OIC.
Ideology
According to the Official MNLF Blogsite, "the MNLF ideology is called egalitarianismEgalitarianism
Egalitarianism is a trend of thought that favors equality of some sort among moral agents, whether persons or animals. Emphasis is placed upon the fact that equality contains the idea of equity of quality...
which affirms, promotes, or characterizes a principled belief in the equality of all people in the political, economic, social, and civil rights aspects regardless of differences in religion, race, ethnic origin, age, and gender." MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari mentioned the "Egalitarian State" in one of his interviews. Contrary to the notion that MNLF is an Islamic Organization, the fact is, the MNLF is composed of Muslims, Christians, tribal Lumads, and any other religions who respect each other under the harmony of religious tolerance.
Vision
With reference to the official MNLF blogsite, "the MNLF envisions an open society for the Bangsamoro Land. Open SocietyOpen society
The open society is a concept originally developed by philosopher Henri Bergson and then by Austrian and British philosopher Karl Popper. In open societies, government is purported to be responsive and tolerant, and political mechanisms are said to be transparent and flexible...
has a civil society that is tolerant to political and religious differences, the government is accountable to the citizens, and the media is independent. Open Society has a free market scenario, less government bureaucracy. In an Open Society, there is a quick and fair processing and replacement of government employees, officers, and politicians who are complained with corruption."
"In an open society, services traditionally ruled by monopolistic government, oligarchy
Oligarchy
Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with an elite class distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, commercial, and/or military legitimacy...
, and plutocracy
Plutocracy
Plutocracy is rule by the wealthy, or power provided by wealth. The combination of both plutocracy and oligarchy is called plutarchy. The word plutocracy is derived from the Ancient Greek root ploutos, meaning wealth and kratos, meaning to rule or to govern.-Usage:The term plutocracy is generally...
will be newly participated in by a wide range of private sector business entities. Under a free market scenario of open society, if service is slow, corrupt, unfair, or inefficient in one shop, then people are given opportunities and choice to go to the next shop to get satisfaction of a better service."
Leadership
The founder and leader of the MNLF is Prof. Dr. Nur Misuari. Based on almost all official communications of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Republic of the Philippines, Nur Misuari is addressed as the Chieftain of the Bangsamoro, Founder of the MNLF, Chairman of the MNLF, Leader of the MNLF, and Commander-in-Chief of the MNLF.Misuari is the only person in the Bangsamoro Land who is distinguished as a certified United Nations Peace Prize Awardee; Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nominee; Awardee of Felix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize. He is one of the few individuals that have acquired an international reputation on account of their major contribution to the promotion of peace, democracy and human rights.
Despite the final peace agreement, Misuari was charged of rebellion over an alleged attack on a Philippine military camp in Sulu in 2001, an attack which he denied and the MNLF denied. Nur Misuari became a political prisoner on charges of rebellion from 2001-2009 during the regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
and the Court acquitted him in 2009 because the prosecution was unable to produce sufficient evidence.
One MNLF Doctrine
According to the Official MNLF Blogsite, there is a ONE MNLF Doctrine that states that "There is only ONE MNLF, under the ONE LEADERSHIP of Nur Misuari, under ONE IDEOLOGY of Egalitarianism. These are the three elements that make a Genuine MNLF."- ONE MNLF
- ONE LEADERSHIP BY NUR MISUARI
- ONE IDEOLOGY OF EGALITARIANISM
"This Doctrine unites the MNLF members. This is like an unspoken oath, and an unwritten doctrine. A person on his own free will becomes one with the MNLF by just understanding and declaring himself a believer of the ONE MNLF Doctrine. A person's affiliation with the MNLF automatically terminates from the perception of any other Genuine MNLF at any point when the member stops believing in the ONE MNLF Doctrine."
This One MNLF Doctrine can be read in all appointment papers of the Officers and Mujahideens of the MNLF, a sample copy can be requested from the Director of Advocacy Communication of the MNLF that can be found at the Official MNLF Blogsite.
MNLF flag
According to the MNLF Director for Advocacy, the symbols in the MNLF flag represent the harmony of the Bangsamoro heart, mind, and body.History of Armed Conflict
With reference to the Official MNLF Blogsite, "the MNLF believes that the Bangsamoro Land is already a sovereign nation hundreds of years before it was illegally annexed as part of the Philippines in the 1935 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines."Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
became a land for new beginnings when broad tracts of land were given away by the Philippine government from 1903 to the 1970s to migrants from other parts of the country in a so-called Homestead Program. There was no land titling system by the natives of Mindanao at that time. The Philippine government took advantage of the absence of land titles to give away lots in Mindanao to poor farmers and other migrants from other parts of the country. Mindanao saw itself as the adopted home of a rapidly burgeoning population of Christian settlers who rapidly encroached on the living areas of the original Muslim and tribal residents, who now began to feel that they were also being robbed of their lands and the economic opportunities they provided.
With that systematic encroachment, the natives, especially the original Muslim and Lumad segments, developed a deep-seated distrust of the officials of the Philippine government, a government under which they felt they were being treated as second-class citizens. As a result of the systematic land grabbing, sporadic fighting in various parts of Mindanao ensued between the natives and the troops/militias of the Philippine government. Due to this, Mindanao become a battle ground of intense armed conflict, even the Americans sent forces to battle frontiers in Mindanao.
During the 1970s, President Ferdinand Marcos formed the ILAGA and CHDF (Civilian Home Defense Force). ILAGA is a Christian militia which claims to defend Christians from attacks perpetrated by Muslims. The ILAGA was one of the groups who fiercely fought against the MNLF. The ILAGA members were indoctrinated with religious motivation and it is rumored that the ILAGA had a reputation for cannibalism. After over three decades, in the year 2011, the ILAGA embraced the egalitarian ideology of MNLF and have joined forces with their used to be mortal enemy—the MNLF.
Birth of the MNLF
There is no record as to when is the exact date of the founding of the MNLF. However, the MNLF have traditionally been celebrating its anniversary every 18 March, a date that coincides with the commemoration of the Jabidah Massacre.According to the Official MNLF Blogsite, "in 18 March 1968, between 14 to 68 Filipino Muslim military trainees were massacred in Corregidor by soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under its Commander in Chief President Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
. It was popularly called the Jabidah Massacre
Jabidah massacre
The Jabidah massacre, also known as the Corregidor massacre, refers to an incident in which members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines massacred a number of Moro Muslim recruits under their supervision. Sources differ regarding the details, with the number of victims ranging from 14 to 68, and...
. The impact was an outrage among the Muslims in Mindanao especially those who are from Sulu where these military trainees were recruited. Not taking this lightly, Nur Misuari, a University of the Philippines professor rose to become the leader of this outraged group and he founded the Moro National Liberation Front in 1969. After a few months of setting up the organizational, in 1970, the MNLF officially proclaimed itself a political party. After recruiting sufficient number of armed freedom fighters, the MNLF launched a protracted armed struggle."
"At that time of the conception of the MNLF, it recruited members with an original objective of regaining the independence of the Bangsamoro People and separate its sovereignty from the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRPH)."
"The MNLF proclaimed itself a Mindanao liberation movement and proceeded to start the insurgency against the dictatorship of then President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The seven years (1969-1976) of intense armed conflict between MNLF and the GRPH resulted in the deaths of thousands of government soldiers and MNLF freedom fighters, as well as the displacement of thousands of families all across the Bangsamoro Land."
"Another important event in the MNLF history is the Tacbil Mosque Massacre. In 24 September 1974, a total of 1776 innocent and unarmed Moslem churchgoers were massacred by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Malisbong, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao. While the muslims were praying, they were sprayed with bullets by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. , a marker in the massacre site reads:"
Terrorism and Human rights issues
There is a United Nations Security Council Report in 23 April 2010 that says that the Moro Islamic Liberation FrontMoro Islamic Liberation Front
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is an Islamist group located in the southern Philippines. It is one of two Islamic militant groups, the other being the Abu Sayyaf, that are fighting against Government of the Philippines...
(MILF), Abu Sayyaf
Abu Sayyaf
Abu Sayyaf also known as al-Harakat al-Islamiyya is one of several military Islamist separatist groups based in and around the southern Philippines, in Bangsamoro where for almost 30 years various Muslim groups have been engaged in an insurgency for an independent province in the country...
Group (ASG), New People's Army
New People's Army
The New People's Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. It was formed on March 29, 1969. The Maoist NPA conducts its armed guerrilla struggle based on the strategical line of 'protracted people's war'.The NPA exacts so called "revolutionary taxes" from business owners...
(NPA), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
(AFP) are among the groups around the world that have subjected minors to the most brutal violence, such as killings, maimings, rapes and other sexual assaults. In the said report, the MNLF is not mentioned as a human rights violator. Despite its huge number of armed freedom fighters, the MNLF under Nur Misuari has consistently maintained the discipline and integrity of its men and commitment to the Peace Agreement.
In a separate corroborating report, the State Department of the United States of America also had a 2009 Human Rights Report and it did not mention the MNLF as a violator.
On October 28, 2011, the Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo admitted that some members of the Abu Sayyaf are related to members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and even government officials.
The three factors make the MNLF human-rights-abuse-free are (1) its rules of engagement, (2) self-reliance, and (3) hazing-free initiation.
- This zero human rights violation by the MNLF is attributed primarily to its rules of engagement in combat. Each MNLF Freedom Fighter who is involved in combat situation, from top ranks down to the individual levels, are indoctrinated that MNLF does not target unarmed civilians, and does not tolerate human rights violations and cowardice in combat such as ambush, assassinations, torture, maimings, summary executions, taking of prisoners, kidnapping, hostaging, maltreatment of wounded enemies left behind, and terrorism of civilians. The MNLF also does not use bombs, arson, and does not trespass into houses, churches, mosques, and cars as these are considered as sanctuary of people caught in armed conflict. This rules of engagement makes the MNLF different from the NPA, ASG, Private Armies, and other criminals, mercenaries and bandits.
- Another factor that contributes to the zero human rights violation of the MNLF is the economic characteristics of the MNLF freedom fighters. MNLFs are self-reliant members of the community who works for a decent living as farmers, traders, teachers, craftsmen, drivers, etc. MNLFs does not collect revolutionary taxes from the people and they are not paid any salaries and benefits as freedom fighters, therefore they are patriots in the purest sense.
- The other considerable factor is the hazing-free initiation of new members into the organization. Joining and leaving the MNLF is very easy. The MNLF does not use and does not tolerate hazing, torture, maltreatment, and any type of abuse in the training and indoctrination process of new members.
Foreign Policy
The MNLF does not take sides in the armed conflict and insurgencies outside the Bangsamoro Land. MNLF is neither associated, nor connected, nor idolizing, nor have experience tactical, advocacy, financial, or organizational alliance with any other international or domestic insurgency or terrorist organizations. MNLF is stand-alone and is not open to any talks towards possibility of partnership or collaboration with any other insurgency or terrorist groups. The MNLF advocates the use of negotiation and peaceful means to settle conflicts. The MNLF is willing to provide Hijra (sanctuary) to anyone who is a victim of atrocities of war, political persecution, and forced migration.MILF
The first separatist of the MNLF was the Moro Islamic Liberation FrontMoro Islamic Liberation Front
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is an Islamist group located in the southern Philippines. It is one of two Islamic militant groups, the other being the Abu Sayyaf, that are fighting against Government of the Philippines...
(MILF) in 1976 which was led by Hashim Salamat. The MILF separated from MNLF for two reasons: (1) MILF believes that the Bangsamoro Land should be an Independent Islamic State, and (2) the Bangsamoro Freedom Fighters should not negotiate with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. The first and original name of MILF was "New MNLF". The MNLF believes that the MILF was formed as a result of the infiltration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and strategic move to "divide-and-conquer" the MNLF. The MNLF believes that the MILF is being used by the AFP in False Flag Operations. Hashim Salamat died in 2003 at age 61, new leadership took over and the organization still exists . The only one GPH administration that negotiated with the MILF is the Arroyo Administration and the peace talk workload was inherited by the Aquino Administration. There are international observers who classify MILF as a Terrorist Organization, such as the Council on Foreign Relations. However, the US Department of State did not include the MILF in the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations . Despite MILF killing of many Philippine soldiers and policemen, the Philippine Government admitted that it is funding the MILF . The MNLF disapproves the idea that GPH is negotiating with the MILF. The MNLF believes that it will be more efficient for the MILF to just return back to its mother organization the MNLF. While the MILF leaders insists on negotiating with the GPH, the MILF troops on the ground have gradually begun to return back to the MNLF.
Abu Sayyaf
The second separatist of the MNLF is the Abu SayyafAbu Sayyaf
Abu Sayyaf also known as al-Harakat al-Islamiyya is one of several military Islamist separatist groups based in and around the southern Philippines, in Bangsamoro where for almost 30 years various Muslim groups have been engaged in an insurgency for an independent province in the country...
Group led by Khadaffy Janjalani in 1991. This group was originally part of the so-called National Islamic Command Council (NICC) which was an Anti-Misuari group led by Melham Alam, the MNLF's sacked Chief of Staff in 1990. It was NICC who burned the Town of Ipil in April 1995. Abu Sayyaf is intolerant to other religions and called for continuous Jihad to pursue a pure Islamic State and believes in the "killing of enemies" and "depriving them of their wealth" (kidnap for ransom). The MNLF believes that the Abu Sayyaf was formed as a result of the black operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to smear dirt on the face of Islam and scare the people against the Muslims. The MNLF believes that the Abu Sayyaf enjoyed the support of the AFP. Khadaffy Janjalani died in 18 December 1998, new leadership took over and the organization still exists .
Fake MNLF, aka 15EC
The third separatist of the MNLF was the Fake MNLF, in 2001 during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. It was not actually a separatist, but more of a hostile take over of the insiders of the GPH. They called themselves MNLF Central Committee or MNLF Executive Council, a group of 15 leaders of the MNLF that have become anti-Misuari (same reason as Abu Sayyaf and MILF). This 15EC were used to be top MNLF leaders but they switched side to the Arroyo Administration and declared the MNLF Leader Nur Misuari as incompetent, yet ironically elevated him to the status of Chairman Emiritus of the MNLF. It was more of something like a hostile takeover in corporate terminology. These 15-men Council succeeded in their ploy and the Arroyo administration made Nur Misuari a political prisoner from 2001 until the cases charged on him was acquitted in December 2009. While Nur Misuari was politically persecuted, the Genuine MNLF who are loyal to him was on "silent mode" from 2001 until his comeback in 2010. The fake MNLF does not have a new official name yet, but they are popularly called as 15EC. The 15EC are no longer considered as one with the MNLF because they violated the One MNLF Doctrine. In one of the speeches of this 15EC, they said: "On Misuari, he is the founding chairman of the MNLF. He was the leader of the MNLF and he has represented the MNLF for a long period until the MNLF Central Committee stripped him of his powers in April 1, 2008, for his incompetence and for lack of direction. The continued recognition by the GRP of Nur Misuari is seen by the Moro people as a low intensity conflict strategy by the Government to perpetuate the division of the MNLF...The apparent continued recognition by the OIC Secretary-General of Bro. Nur is immaterial to the MNLF central committee."Peace talks
All peace talks and negotiations between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRPH) are participated in, brokered, mediated, facilitated, and events-coordinated by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).Heavy fightings started in 1970 and the first peace talk was in 1976. The GRPH, after losing many soldiers in six years of fighting with the MNLF, coupled with the economic crisis brought about by oil embargo imposed by the OIC, decided to initiate a move to convince Nur Misuari to sit on a negotiation table for a peace talk. Desperate of being unable to convince Misuari, President Marcos sent his first lady Imelda Marcos to Tripoli Libya to request the assistance of Muammar al-Gaddafi
Muammar al-Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
to broker a ceasefire and peace negotiation between GRPH and MNLF. In 1976, Gaddafi played a very big role in successfully brokered Nur Misuari and President Marcos to sign an international treaty called the 1976 MNLF-GRPH Tripoli Agreement. The treaty was witnessed and recognized by the OIC.
The 1976 Tripoli agreement provided for a general ceasefire and called for autonomy under the broad principle that Mindanao would remain an integral part of the Republic of the Philippines. After thirteen years, the 1989 Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Organic Act was enacted into a law, wherein thirteen provinces (eight of which had Christian majorities) were proclaimed subject to the provisions of the agreement, which allowed Muslims their own courts, schools and administrative system. In 1996, the MNLF-GRPH signed a Final Peace Agreement, which provides that the Autonomous Region for Muslims would have a legislative assembly, executive council, special regional security forces, and economic and financial system.
Treaties and agreements between the MNLF and the Philippine government
According to the Official MNLF Blogsite, below are the major agreements made by the MNLF.1976 Tripoli Agreement during Pres. Ferdinand Marcos
After years of intense fighting between the MNLF and the GRPH, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) finally interceded. In 1976, Libyan politician Moammar Gadhafi brokered the negotiation between the GRPH and MNLF Leader Nur Misuari. The outcome of the negotiation was the signing of the MNLF-GRPH Tripoli Agreement of 1976. The 1976 Tripoli Agreement essentially made MNLF and GRPH meet in a compromise agreement to establish an Autonomous Region in the Bangsamoro Land. The Tripoli Agreement of 1976 is the basis of the mandate of the MNLF, with Nur Misuari as the only one recognized leader, to represent the Bangsamoro People in its struggle for freedom. Out of the twenty-five (25) privinces claimed by the MNLF for Independence, the Tripoli Agreement negotiations settled to a compromise of thirteen (13) provinces to be included in the formation of an Autonomous Government for the Bangsamoro People, namely: Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Palawan.Despite the signing of the Tripoli Agreement of 1976, the fighting still continued on the ground between the AFP of President Marcos and the MNLF because of the absence of a clear guideline on the implementing rules and regulation of the Tripoli Agreement.
After securing the 1976 Tripoli Agreement, Marcos went ahead and held a referendum, which seemed to indicate opposition to the inclusion of certain provinces, opposition to the degree of autonomy presumably wanted by the MNLF and support for Marcos’ plan for two autonomous regions with 10 provinces under central control. The initial ceasefire, which was beneficial to Misuari as it gave his battle-weary troops time to rest (an opportunity welcomed with equal relief by the Armed Forces of the Philippines), eventually worked against the MNLF's interests. While the MNLF was relaxing, the AFP infiltrated it with a "divide-and-conquer" strategy. As a result, in 1976, the MNLF suffered from internal factionalism as disagreements between moderates and conservatives. In 1981, the internal differences has finally caused the birth of a more extremist Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is an Islamist group located in the southern Philippines. It is one of two Islamic militant groups, the other being the Abu Sayyaf, that are fighting against Government of the Philippines...
(MILF) faction to officially break off from the MNLF. The existence of the MILF translates into a continuing insurgency confronting the GRPH.
1989 ARMM Organic Act during Pres. Corazon Aquino
In 1986, President Marcos was ousted by a popular revolt called People Power 1. In 1987, the new President of the Republic of the Philippines Corazon Aquino visited Nur Misuari in his home province in Sulu to talk peace with him. The humility and courage of Cory Aquino softened the warrior heart of Nur Misuari. In 1987, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) became part of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. On 1 August 1989, the ARMM was created through Republic Act No. 6734 otherwise known as the ARMM Organic Act in pursuance with a constitutional mandate to provide for an ARMM. This law was further amended in 2001 and popularly became known as R.A. 9054 ARMM Organic Act - 2001 Amendment.1994 Joint Ceasefire Ground Rules during Pres. Fidel Ramos
In 20 January 1994, the MNLF and GRPH signed a Joint Guidelines and Ground Rules for the Implementation of the 1993 Interim GRP-MNLF Ceasefire Agreement. This agreement covers MNLF identified areas (MNLF zones) including the following provinces:- BasilanBasilanThe Province of Basilan is an island province of the Philippines within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Basilan is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago and is located just off the southern coast of Zamboanga Peninsula...
(ARMM) - SuluSuluSulu is an autonomous island province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Jolo and occupies the middle group of islands of the Sulu Archipelago, between Basilan and Tawi-Tawi...
(ARMM) - Tawi-tawiTawi-TawiTawi-Tawi is an island province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . The capital of Tawi-Tawi is Bongao. The province is the southernmost of the country sharing sea borders with the Malaysian State of Sabah and the Indonesian East Kalimantan province. To the...
(ARMM) - Zamboanga del SurZamboanga del SurZamboanga del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Pagadian City is the capital...
- Zamboanga del NorteZamboanga del NorteZamboanga del Norte or simply known as ZANORTE is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital is Dipolog City and the province borders Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay to the south and Misamis Occidental to the east...
- North Cotabato
- MaguindanaoMaguindanaoMaguindanao is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Shariff Aguak. It borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south....
(ARMM) - Sultan Kudarat
- Lanao del NorteLanao del NorteLanao del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Tubod. The province borders Lanao del Sur to the southeast, Zamboanga del Sur to the west, Illana Bay to the southwest, Iligan Bay to the north, Iligan City to the northeast, and is separated...
- Lanao del SurLanao del SurLanao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Marawi City and borders Lanao del Norte to the north, Bukidnon to the east, and Maguindanao and Cotabato to the south. To the southwest lies Illana Bay, an arm of the Moro Gulf...
(ARMM) - Davao del SurDavao del SurDavao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Digos City. The province is bordered by Davao City to the north, and Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani to the west. To the east lies the Davao Gulf...
- South CotabatoSouth CotabatoSouth Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east...
- PalawanPalawanPalawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
In this agreement, the GRPH is mandated to authorize the MNLF to carry their firearms within MNLF identified areas; and GRPH may carry their firearms only in the performance of their official functions. The GRPH shall also authorize the MNLF VIPs to carry sidearms and shall provide additional security when moving in urban areas outside the MNLF zones.
1996 Final Peace Agreement during Pres. Fidel Ramos
President Fidel Ramos succeeded President Corazon Aquino in 1992 and he relentlessly pursued peace by running after Nur Misuari using persistent diplomatic emissaries. In 1993, the Philippine Government signed a Joint Ceasefire Agreement with the MNLF. In 1994, the Joint Ceasefire Ground Rules between the MNLF and GRPH was finalized. This 1994 MNLF-GRPH Joint Ceasefire Ground Rules, which is still in effect , grants the MNLF to possess and carry firearms in the 13 Provinces stipulated in the Tripoli Agreement and the MNLF Officials may carry sidearms when moving in areas outside the 13 Provinces. In 1996, a compromise was finally reached by MNLF and the government and the MNLF-GRP 1996 Final Peace Agreement was signed by Ambassador Manual Tan (GRPH), Nur Misuari (MNLF Chairman), and Ali Alatas (Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and Chairman of the OIC). , the 1996 Final Peace Agreement is the framework of talks and negotiation to determine implementing rules and guidelines.Upside
In 23 February 2011 the MNLF-GRPH-OIC had a fourth tri-partite talks in Jeddah. The Joint Communique after the talks indicate that three groups of experts from MNLF-GRPH-OIC-IDB will be formed: (1) to formulate the Terms of Reference of the Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund by 30 May 2011, (2) to act as Tripartite Implementation Monitoring Committee by 30 April 2011, (3) to formulate the Mineral Sharing agreement by 30 April 2011. Output will be presented to OIC Peace Committee for Southern Philippines (OIC-PCSP) Chairman in Kazakhstan in June 2011.Meanwhile, on the GRPH side, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) formed a legal panel represented the MNLF, GRP and mediated by the OIC. The legal panel has now completed and initialed the final agreement on revising RA 9054 and it moves forward into Congress for revision/replacement of RA 9054 to create a genuine autonomy.
The administration of President Noynoy Aquino framework of program for Mindanao is spelled out in Mindanao 2020. Pres. Aquino said that "Mindanao will be at the core of our social development and poverty alleviation programs."
Downside
At present, the MNLF is becoming apprehensive about the GRPH capability in taking a lead in implementing the Genuine Autonomy in the Bangsamoro Land for the following reasons:- High Poverty Incidence in Philippines — some 20.5 percent of Filipinos or about 4.1 million families are going hungry while 51 percent, or some 10.4 million families, consider themselves poor , according to a new survey by pollster Social Weather Stations. The 2011 Hunger Incidence Index Report for Philippines in 2010 is 11.5%.
- Economic Mismanagement by the GRPH — Philippines has become the second least attractive investment site in ASEAN.
- Incorrigible Culture of Corruption in the GRPH — the PERC Survey that says Philippines is most corrupt nation in Asia.
- High Human Rights Abuses by the GRPH — According to Pulse Asia study, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is most corrupt agency of the Philippine Government. The United Nations Security Council and the U.S. State Department also reported a high incidence of human rights violation by the AFP. Instances of torture in detention cells of the Philippine National Police have also been reported by other sources. The Philippine government forces were also trained and initiated into the organization using inhumane methods such as torture, hazing, and maltreatment; thus making each of them tolerant to the sight of human suffering.
External links
- Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) (FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page)