June 19, 2001, The Philippine Star, Nur raps traitors GMA men for dividing MNLF,

June 19, 2001, The Philippine Star, Nur raps traitors GMA men for dividing MNLF, 

COTABATO CITY -- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Nur Misuari reasserted yesterday that he is still the Moro National Liberation Front chairman and blamed certain people close to President Arroyo for driving a wedge into the solidarity of his followers.

ARMM insiders have alleged that the MNLF assembly, participated in by some 2,000 members of the Mutallah Force, a group formed after the forging of the Sept. 2, 1996 government-MNLF peace pact by a core of Misuari's loyal followers, was bankrolled by the Office of the Regional Governor, using "contributions" from the maintenance and operating funds of regional line agencies.

In a two-hour speech, Misuari repeatedly branded as "traitor" the Council of 15, which unseated him last April as the MNLF's chairman and took over from him the front's leadership due to loss of trust and confidence.

The council is composed of senior members of the front, including Cotabato City mayor-elect Muslimin Sema and Dr. Farouk Hussien, chair of the MNLF's committee on foreign affairs.

Misuari also accused Presidential Adviser on Special Concerns Norberto Gonzales of instigating the take over by the council of the MNLF's central leadership.

Some people helped Gonzales, according to Misuari, in inciting the members of the Council of 15 to organize themselves as the new central leadership of the MNLF.

Misuari said he is still willing to reconcile with the members of the council and accept them back to the MNLF, which he contended, remains under his leadership.

Misuari said member-states of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), which helped broker the GRP-MNLF peace pact, still recognize him as the chairman of the MNLF.

In fact, Misuari said, he will represent the MNLF in the forthcoming International Foreign Ministers Conference of the OIC in Bamako, Republic of Mali.

Meanwhile, the Council of 15 claimed it got much-need recognition with its participation, on invitation of the Libyan government, to this week's formal round of talks between Malacanang and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Libya.

Hussien, a member of the council, said they are sending seven representatives to the GRP-MILF talks in Libya, among them Cotabato City mayor-elect Muslimin Sema, the MNLF's secretary-general.

"The attendance of the MNLF's new leadership in the GRP-MILF talks in Libya will correct the impression being projected by some people that the Council of 15 is not legitimate and that it is not recognized by organizations and foreign countries supporting the Sept. 2, 1996 GRP-MNLF peace accord," Hussien said.