MANILA — A 12,000-strong former secessionist rebel group called on Filipino Muslims who are local government leaders not to help a renegade rebel leader who waged attacks that killed 80 people and displaced 47,000 people in five towns in the southern Philippines earlier this month, rebel sources said. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) called on leaders of various factions of the mainstream Moro National Liberation Movement (MNLF) for “more constructive dialogues in the face of recent upsurge of violence initiated by Datu Ameril Umbra Kato of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) and his men who belong to the Nangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF), Mohammad Ameen, chair of the MILF Secretariat told Luwaran, MILF's website. MILF's invitation specifically mentioned MNLF founder and leader Nur Misuari and Muslimin Sema, also head of another MNLF faction. “Let us work together for the collective interests of our people and treat organizational and personal benefit as mere second or third priority,” said Ameen. Insisting that various MNLF factions would not assist Kato and his armed group, the BIFF, Ameen added: “Let us also separate ourselves from those whose motives are purely fired by vengeance and hatred, because ours have clear political agenda that do not only protect our rights but also of others.” “They are now starting to kill civilians and loot their properties,” warned Ameen, adding that the radical BIFM and BIFF “lack popular support” and are “incapable of protracted warfare”. The warning was in response to reports that politicians and other rebel groups in Maguindanao and North Cotabato have been supporting Kato's group. At the same time, Von Al-Haq, MILF spokesperson, said MNLF uniforms were found at camps of the BIFF that the military had captured. “We monitored that MNLF followers in Maguindanao reinforced the BIFF during the clashes (with government soldiers),” Al-Haq added. In response, Vice Mayor Sema of Cotabato City insisted that the MILF was wrong in believing that his MNLF faction was pro-Kato. — Agencies
