February 6, 2011 - While admitting having internal problem involving former MILF’s 105th Base Commander Umbra Kato, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim told media during a press conference at Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat on February 5 that there is an open line of communication with him even after the video film (of Kato) was released to the public.
In that interview, Kato 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.
In an earlier forum, Muhammad Ameen, chair of the MILF Secretariat, told his audience that until today including the conduct of the struggle and the negotiation, the MILF present leadership is following the ideological and political lines espoused in the book written by the late MILF founder Salamat Hashim entitled, “Guidelines to the Bangsamoro Mujahid”.
Salamat is recognized as the foremost ideologue of the MILF. He is not only recognized as a “learned man” (aleem, pl. ulama) by his peers in Mindanao but also by leading ulama of his time particularly those of the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
The book was originally published in Lahore, Pakistan but had been reprinted several times in Mindanao since he arrived in 1987.
Ameen also clarified 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.
“We are making headway to convince him to fully return to the fold of the MILF,” Murad told www.luwaran.com in an interview after the press conference where some 35 members of the media, broadcast, print, and television attended.
“I believe this problem can still be resolved expeditiously and soon,” he added, without elaborating.
Among the media personalities, who attended the press conference, were Ms. Sidney Jones of the International Crisis Group (ICG) and Manuel Mogato of Reuter, an international news agency.
The press conference started at 9:30 am with an introduction of the main speaker by Mohagher Iqbal, followed by Chairman Murad who read a prepared press statement, and then by the open forum.
The Q&A session ended at around 11:30am.
Murad told newsmen that Kato is not founding a new organization but only seeking for a separate military, which he called as “Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters” or simply BIFF.
He also disclosed that the MILF Central Committee had already sent its three most senior ulama to talk to him and they reported back with some good development.
Biff (slang) in classical English means “to give a blow”.
Kato, in his early 70s, joined the MILF in 1993 five years after the late MILF Chairman Salamat Hashim returned from Pakistan in 1987.
Before this, after his graduation in Islamic theology course from the Riyadh Islamic University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Kato taught in one of the madrasahs (Arabic schools) in Davao Oriental, where he stayed for many years. He also served as lecturer on Shariah law for those taking the Shariah bar examination.
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