MILF ISSUES DISCUSSED BY MURAD AT MEDIA FORUM-RIC CLET and MARIZ REVALES

Chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Central Committee Al Haj Murad Ebraim yesterday in  a press conference at camp Darapanan, Maguindanao in his opening statement  said that "this is an opportune time again to address several issues which you in the media want to clarify". He added that the MILF wish to set the record straight in the face of speculations that have since surfaced when the peace process was in a standstill.  He said that the  resumption of peace talks needs a consultations from their people  before they send their negotiating panel back to the negotiating table. "Several issues have emerged in the long intervening period between the last session of the MILF-GRP peace negotiations on June 3, 2010 under the dispensation of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the forthcoming resumption of talks this February, 2011 under the administration of President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III", Murad said. The MILF for the past consecutive days from January 25, 2011 a series of consultations were undertaken with leaders and members of the MILF, both political and military, as well as the Moro civil society. The meeting with the press yesterday that started at 9:30 in the morning marked the culmination of these consultations. "Since we started peace negotiations in 1997, our people position remains the same : the peaceful negotiated political settlement of the Bangsamoro Questions that would give due recognition to the right of the Bangsamoro  people to self determination" He noted. Murad told media groups who attended that the MILF has to take into serious account the sentiments of each  and every sector  of the people whose collective interest and aspiration the MILF represents whether  in the armed struggle  or in the peace negotiation. He said that MILF has to be consistent in their position of peaceful negotiated political settlement despite    the clamor that they go back to the demand for political independence. Murad in the open forum, admitted that MILF is having an internal problem involving former MILF's 105th Base Commander Umbra Kato,  MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim but also said that there is an open line of communication with him even after the video film (of Kato) was released to the public. In an earlier interview with Kato, he enumerated some of the issues he raised against the MILF that included the alleged revisionist policy of the current leadership headed by Murad in abandoning the Front's original stance of independence and that he was arbitrarily booted out of command. The MILF leadership confirmed that Kato was not stripped of his command but he voluntarily resigned, citing that old age is already creeping on him. The resignation is contained in a letter to the MILF leadership last year. "I believe this problem can still be resolved expeditiously and soon," Murad said after the press conference when interviewed by GMANews.TV. In a The Q&A session, Murad told reporters that Kato is forming a new military group which he called as  BIFF which means Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. Meanwhile, Abel Moya and Juanito Enriquez, Jr   represented the Civil Society groups from Iligan City. Moya  told GMANews.tv that they attended the press conference to listen to Murad  and to  support the peace process between the GRP-MILF.   He  appealed to the leadership of both panels to stay engaged with the peace process for a lasting solution to the elusive peace in Mindanao.   Enriquez,Managing director of the  Civil Society organization-Forum for Peace (CSO-FP) raised question on the issue of human rights violations citing the violations committed in the major all-out wars in2001,2003 and 2003.   Murad responded that at present, no cases was being filed in connection to  human rights violations committed. Murad also disclosed that numerous armed provocations violative of the ceasefire agreement, impasses in the negotiations and black propaganda that the MILF has been subjected to. Murad also said that no discussion of agenda for a compensation for those victims of human rights violations. Both panels are trying to stop human rights violations.   Murad in closing he said "that consistent with our policy of exhaustion of peace means in resolving the Bangsamoro question, Hopefully, if things turn out right an d the Philippine leadership this time is truly sincere, refrains from usual dilatory tactic and military aggression resorted to by previous Philippine administrations, and has the requisite  political will to address and resolve the bangsamoro question, I am optimistic  that in a short time we can come out with proper political  formula  from the negotiating table. We can have the beginning of a just peace in the Bangsamoro Homeland  in our time and gereration", Murad said.