November 17, 2000, The Philippine Star, Nur lashes at OIC s RP mission, by Aurea Calica,

November 17, 2000, The Philippine Star, Nur lashes at OIC s RP mission, by Aurea Calica,

It was Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao Gov. Nur Misuari's turn to be dismayed with the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) after a fact-finding mission that the group had sent to assess the Mindanao situation came out with a report favorable to the Philippine government. 

During the OIC ministerial meeting last June in Kuala Lumpur, Misuari badmouthed the government and succeeded in making the influential Muslim group send a mission to find out if his complaints had basis. 

But during the OIC leaders' meeting in Doha, Qatar that Misuari attended as an observer, being chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front, his grievances were no longer just directed to the government but to the mission as well. 

In a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Undersecretary Lauro Baja Jr. said Misuari "claimed the mission did not consider the calls for independence raised by Muslims and indigenous groups." 

"Misuari also noted that though the mission's report was "quite accurate," some observations were "inadvertently omitted and portrayed in very courteous language." 

On the mission's visit itself, Misuari lamented the mission was not able to address three multisectoral meetings and did not visit at least two evacuation centers in Maguindanao. The Philippine delegation stressed the government left it to the OIC committee to assess the Mindanao situation and how the accord was being implemented.— Aurea Calica