On GPH-MILF deal: President Aquino must not only be wary of Nur Misuari but also of every Filipino Moslem

"Yes, the Mindanao Factor will haunt this president if the pudding cooked by the bilateral chefs does not accommodate the entire country at the banquet. The best leaders are the ones who listen best and who engage the opponent with a strong respect for unvarnished dialogue. Practice truth and fear nothing!"

By Yolanda Ortega Stern
26 January 2013

President Aquino, in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer last week, stated that that he did not think the legendary Nur Misuari, founding Chair of the Moro National Liberation Force (MNLF) was a spent force.

The Inquirer wrote that Mr Aquino remains wary of those who would want to spoil the gains of a peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The Inquirer also asked the Chief Executive if there might be people from the MNLF who might be agitated by a peace agreement between government and the MILF. Mr Aquino said: 

“Yes, I am sure. It could be the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters), or it could be some other group. They might be a new group.”

My view:

His Excellency, President Benigno Aquino Jr., must of course be wary not only of Nur Musuari but also of every Filipino Moslem who at some point in their lives walked both sides of war and peace in search of  'self determination.'
  
He must also be wary of Filipino Lumads and Christians who comprise the majority of poor Filipinos without a visible promise of opportunity. We must also all remember, along with the President, that there have been many other Deals reached and signed before he came along, one in particular not yet implemented. And it was not because of 'spoilers'.

Spoilers are but a very small number of people who are aware of ongoing business and want theur voices heard. Ask the lonely fisherman in Sacol: What about the new deal, and he would have no clue. They just live and die by the bullet, the fire, or the poverty they all inherited decade after decade.   

Yes, the Mindanao Factor will haunt this president if the pudding cooked by the bilateral chefs does not accomodate the entire country at the banquet. The best leaders are the ones who listen best and who engage the opponent with a strong respect for unvarnished dialogue. Practice truth and fear Nothing!
  
~~~~O~~~~

Yolanda Ortega Stern is the President at One World Institute, a US registered NGO for health, education, livelihood, disaster relief; Mr Stern has given her permission for the publication of her view on this blog. 

~~~~O~~~~

INQUIRER REPORT: Aquino wary of Misuari, other peace deal spoilers
By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
2:29 am | Sunday, January 26th, 2014

President Benigno Aquino III said he did not consider Nur Misuari, the fugitive founding chair of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), a “spent force,” as he remained wary of those who would want to spoil the gains of a peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“Yes, I am sure. It could be the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters), or it could be some other group. They might be a new group,” the President said when asked in an interview with the Inquirer on Wednesday if there could be people from the MNLF who might be agitated by a peace agreement between government and the MILF.

Government and MILF negotiators completed talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday on the normalization annex, the last document that would complete a peace agreement between the two parties aimed at ending four decades of fighting in central Mindanao.

Asked if he considered Misuari a spent force, the President said in Filipino: “I won’t say that. If you are a terrorist, even if there are only three of you, it’s enough. Even if you’re alone, it’s enough.”

Hunting Misuari

Authorities are hunting Misuari for instigating his followers to take over Zamboanga City in September last year, claiming that the government abrogated the 1996 peace agreement with the MNLF after it proposed to wind down the tripartite review of the organic law facilitated by Indonesia.

The government and the MNLF are reviewing some provisions of the organic law creating the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).  Mr. Aquino once described the ARMM as a “failed experiment.”

In the Zamboanga siege, Misuari loyalists took hostage more than 200 residents and left a part of the city in ruins.

It was the first urban warfare fought by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the worst security threat faced by Mr. Aquino’s three-year-old administration. As commander in chief, the President personally oversaw the military operations to expel the rebels from Zamboanga.

Lost cause

President Aquino said spoilers would certainly be “alienated” once the people started to feel the gains of a peace agreement.

“We start off with a vast majority who is no longer supportive of your (the spoilers’) clandestine activities … There would be no more safe havens. It would be difficult for the bandit groups. If electricity is disrupted, a bridge is blown up and the produce is not brought to the market … All of this, would they gain sympathy? Probably not, so the majority will tell the others, we are living quiet lives and you don’t want to help us? So the more they would be alienated. The more they would become a lost cause, a weak factor,” Mr. Aquino said.

The President said reports reaching him indicated that other MNLF factions were supportive of the peace initiatives of the government.

To read full report, link here.

Pictures of President Benigno Aquino III and Nur Misuari. AP FILE PHOTOS

Zamboanga stand-off: Opting for the "shortcut syndrome" because it's the easier solution

Everyone must understand that the 96 Peace deal was offered by FVR to both MNLF & MILF (the latter, you all know, broke from the MNLF because they refused the Tripoli Agreement and preferred to continue the fight for secession). In essence, the MNLF dropped the secession doctrine after the 96 peace deal was forged, thanks to FVR; the MILF shunned the deal and continued with its secession war, funded by Malaysia. 

Today, the MILF, under the influence of Malaysia has managed to secure its own "peace deal" with Govt which would pave the way for sharing of sovereignty with the Republic. And why do you think Malaysia was chosen to engineer this peace deal with the MILF? Did Malaysia influence events and engineered the deal out of altruism?

You may kill Nur Misuari today but the problem with his supporters and the Southern Mindanao will remain. If you don't want the MNLF problem anymore, then the Armed Forces of the Philippines (which will be undoubtedly cheered by many Filipinos) need to annihilate the whole MNLF, their men, their women, their children, their unborn babies and every single living being remotely associated to the MNLF but even then you will have NO GUARANTEE that in the future you won't have a problem -- but the next time it will be with the MILF!!!

And the problem with the MILF will be of far bigger consequence, far more lethal because you will have to face Malaysia alongside them! (Oh, yes, we know, when that happens, Pinoys will shrug their shoulders and say, "Eh, wala naman tayong magagawa" the constant refrain from many commenters when the Sultanate forces of Sabah staked their claim in Tanduo and PH did NOT LIFT A FINGER IN THEIR DEFENCE while they were being murdered! But when it comes to Filipinos killing their own, they cheer on.)

Why are Filipinos allowing themselves to be manipulated into killing their own? Is it because it is easier to fight among themselves? Is it because it is the shortcut route - a shortcut remedy, something that Pinoys have a penchant for, preferring the "kill the MNLF" solution because it is easier, quicker perhaps than to have to face a more complex problem, i.e., MALAYSIA-MILF?

Tell Government to face the problem not with the barrel of the gun against its own but to re-examine with the MNLF what is wrong... Review the 96 Peace deal. Start from there. Govt has not been exactly above board in meeting its obligations in relation to the 96 Peace Deal.

Our advice to Prof Nur Misuari: Sit down with Govt and talk; send emissary to tell Govt that you will lay down your arms and that you want to talk. Request an OIC member to parlay for you if necessary. There are members of Govt, we are confident, who are not completely devoid of brains. Ask FVR to be your envoy...

A recap: 'Warring' with your own is not a solution in Mindanao.

It took Europeans tens of millions of dead, maimed, lives and places destroyed for more than 1,000 years to realise this and so, created Europe (EU). There is no need to wait a thousand years for Filipinos to see that warring with their own is not a solution. Reserve your strength to fight your foreign enemies before they dismember the Republic

Those who fan the flames of war against their own people need to understand that they are leading this country to disaster when they lose the ultimate war with its foreign enemies who are lurking at the gates, ready to pounce on the weakened and divided Philippines ...

Again, sit down with the "insurgents" and review the 1996 Peace Deal. Admittedly, it's a more difficult solution than just to "Kill! Kill!" This penchant for opting for the easy solution to avoid facing the tougher options must stop. Less shortcuts please!

~~~~ O ~~~~

Kuala Lumpur's trade embargo on Filipino Muslims and Nur Misuari

Last March, Kuala Lumpur imposed a trade embargo on Filipino Muslims of Mindanao which is now posing a serious problem on the people of Southern Mindanao. It now behooves Nur Misuari to find a way to neutralize Malaysia troops in Sabah to end the embargo. With President Aquino playing puppet to Malaysia's Najib, Nur Misuari and the MNLF have effectively become the de facto defenders of Philippine sovereignty claims to Sabah.

But his troops are facing two enemies who have imposed a naval blockade in the southern seas: Malaysia Navy and Philippine Navy.

Question is can Nur Misuari's forces slip through PH Naval blockade? Difficult but not impossible - would mean turning around through the west instead of deploying from east of Sulu. ;-)

REPORT:

Kuala Lumpur imposes trade embargo on Filipino Muslim traders

By NONOY E. LACSON & EDD K. USMAN

BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi – The Malaysian government has imposed a trade embargo on Muslim Filipino traders from southern Philippines as part of their sanction to force fighters of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to leave Felda Sahabat 17 in Sabah and return to Sulu.

RELATED POSTS

• The rise of Nur Misuari and the MNLF: A double-edged sword

• Have Nur Misuari and the MNLF become the bona fide defenders of Philippine sovereignty rights?

• On MNLF rescute operations: Malaysia should have listened to Nur Misuari warning not to harm Filipino Tausugs in Sabah

• Malaysia's defence minister Zahid Hamidi threatens Nur Misuari citing threat to wooly Malaysia 'sovereignty'

• Nur Misuari to Malaysia on Sulu army in stand-off: "If one drop of their blood is spilled, we might be forced to come to their aid"

• By subordinating law and order powers tot the MNLF, this government has encouraged the dismantling of the Republic

Malaysia should have listened to Nur Misuari warning not to harm Filipino Tausugs in Sabah

Nur Misuari shown with a group of MNLF fighters

Malaysia press seem to be filled with news about Nur Misuari and the MNLF's rescue operations in the offing. 

If we have to go by the amount of news mileage that Nur Misuari-MNLF rescue teams have garnered in Malaysia news, it is safe to assume that the Malaysians are probably worried sick. And rightly so!

No less than Malaysia's Defence Minister Zahid issued threats against the MNLF founder by bandying Malaysia's 'superior' security faces to prove his point that he is not taking Nur Misuari's MNLF training camps lightly. Alas! Too late! He should have listened to Nur Misuari's warning much earlier and refrained from ordering the massive killings of Filipino Tausugs in Sabah.

Malaysia must not be surprised by Nur Misuari's preparations. He had already warned Malaysia that if their troops kill Filipino Tausugs, the MNLF would be forced to the rescue but it seems Malaysians, pigheaded that they alwasy are, have not been taking the legendary Tausug warrior's exhortations. 

To the MNLF, we say, march on Tausug warriors! March on and thrash these Malaysian bastards!

Nemo nos impune lacessit! (No one hits us with impunity)

MNLF training camp for Sabah rescue operation

April 10, 2013 Free Malaysia Today

Veteran combat fighters are training recruits to rescue Filipinos stranded in Sabah.

JOLO: In a camp set up by the Moro National Liberation Front in this part of southern Philippines, recruits are being trained by veteran combat fighters “to rescue” thousands of Filipinos allegedly being abused by Malaysian security forces in Sabah.
MNLF chairman Nur Misuari gave News5 an exclusive peek into the ongoing training for members of “Operation Rescue”" as he claimed they were ready to “sustain a war for a hundred years” if necessary.
The online news portal InterAksyon.com quotes Misuari, founder of the original Moro insurgent force in the 1960s, as saying that 1,000 of their men are already in Sabah.
Misuari stressed that their troops are not allied with the Royal Sultanate Army but have as their main mision the “rescue” of Filipinos allegedly being “abused” by Malaysia. Over 60 Filipinos have died in the standoff, and thousands others are feared caught in the crackdown.
Separate from Misuari’s statements, members of the self-styled “Royal Security Force of the Sulu Sultanate” who remain holed up in Lahad Datu, Sabah, claimed to have received additional reinforcements from sympathisers in the Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi areas.
Abraham Idjirani, sultanate spokesman and secretary general, claimed in a phone interview that as of Tuesday, Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram and his Royal Security Force are 400-strong, after dwindling to just over 160 in the face of heavy Malaysian assault.
Idjirani said more Filipinos went to Sabah on March 29 and April 5 on board boats, able to slip past the naval blockade set up by both the Philippines and Malaysia.
He said “70 to 80 percent” of those who went there were reportedly armed. He said these Filipinos went there on their own due to “accumulated anger” after their loved ones in Sabah were either allegedly killed or harassed by Malaysians.
Idjirani’s claims could not be independently verified, and Philippine military officials have said that naval forces are in place to block any such attempts to reinforce the sultanate’s followers in Sabah.
At the MNLF camp, trainees were being instructed on the use of machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
Sulu Gov. Abdulsakur Tan cautioned Misuari against any rash actions, while a military spokesman warned that the supposed rescue plans, if carried out, would go against Philippine policies on the Sabah standoff.
-Agencies

Malaysia's Defence Minister Zahid is speaking from his backside

Nur Misuari

Zahid

In the news today: Peninsular Malaysia's Defence Minister Zahid said that Misuari and his so-called MNLF fighters should not try and test the patience and strength of Malaysian security forces which included the army, police and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

Big words, Mr Zahid! Big words from the mouth of a little Malayan politician!

Come to think of it, is Mr Zahid threatening to invade Sulu with Kuala Lumpur's troops? His big words about the "strength of Malaysian security forces" is almost a declaration that he would and that he could if you read between the lines! 

To be perfectly honest, if there is anyone in the Republic who should feel threatened, it is President Aquino; sadly we don't think Mr Aquino cares or if he does, he is tetanised by fear! 

Which, incidentally, we must remind our great and benighted leader, President NoyNoy, that if he looks at things in Mindanao purely from a tactical perspective, he will realise that will not be a difficult task for Zahid to order his already stationed troops in Mindanao and his new pro-Malaya recruits, the MILF, to sow havoc in Mindanao and to kidnap or kill would-be Filipino Tausug officcers and warriors bound for Sabah in Mindanao itself. But that is Mr Zahid's -- and Mr Aquino's, problem and not ours.

(Just so everyone knows, we have  consistently warned President NoyNoy that his allowing Kuala Lumpur troops to be stationed in Mindanao is giving Kuala Lumpur military the incredible right to establish a military beachhead in Mindanao. We guess that he did that to please his Daddy and his Mommy.)

In any case, the good but excitable Malaysia Defence Minister Zahid is out of his mind. Before anything else, we don't believe for one nano second that this grandstanding by Mr Zahid will make Nur Misuari cower in fear. Secondly, Zahid must put it in his tiny brain that not once did Nur Misuari threaten to invade Peninsular Malaysia of which Kuala Lumpur is capital, therefore there is no threat whatsoever against 'Malaysia.'

If Zahid thinks that he could bamboozle Nur Misuari, who has been imprisoned left, right and center by both the governments of Kuala Lumpur and Imperial Manila over the last few decades, into submission by stupid warnings, then he must go see a doctor for prescription pills to ease his nerves.

On Zahid's implying that Sabah is part of Kuala Lumpur's sovereignty, Mr Zahid is propagating Kuala Lumpur's tradition for distorting historical, legal and moral facts!  Before he goes on one of his wild goose chases again, we advise him to read and re-read history so that he can be apprised of the very basic fact that Sabah was illegaly annexed to the Malaya Federation by the British colonial lords of Sabah after British finally let go of their colonial throttle over the land whose proprietary rights belong to the Sultanate of Sulu. Which, by any stretch of his wild imagination, does not mean Kuala Lumpur has suddenly become sovereign rights holders of Sabah.

Surely, Mr Zahid is aware that the illegal annexation was brought about when the lessees, Messrs Overbeck and Dent's British North Borneo Company, transferred its lease to the British Crown in 1946 something which violated a key provision in the contract of lease. The ensuing British Crown colonisation of Sabah did not give Kuala Lumpur the right to annex it - in fact, Kuala Lumpur had absolutely nothing to do with Sabah until the creation of the Malaysia Federation which sought to annex despite protestations from the Republic of the Philippines which had establised de jure sovereignty rights over it by virtue of the transfer made by the sultanate in 1962. 

Furthermore, Mr Zahid must remember that there exists a 1963 Manila Accord which was co-signed no less than by one of the fathers of his own country, Malaya Federation's Tunku Abdul Rahman, of which Provision 12 clearly stipulates that the creation of the 1963 Malaysia Federation does not extinguish the Philippine sovereignty rights claim to Sabah. 

In fine, it would do well for Mr Zahid to stop all his nonsense declaration that Nur Misuari has threatened his country's sovereignty. The boundaries of his country, Malaya Federation or Peninsular Malaysia today, do not extend to Sabah. His troops are illegaly fermenting chaos in Sabah. Nur Misuari, like any Tausug, like any warrior, like any man worthy to be called a man, like any Filipino patriot, has all the right to fight for Sabah and to kill -- if necessary -- its enemies of  whom Malaysian troops on orders of Mr Zahid's Kuala Lumpur government are part.

For the umpteenth time, we repeat, Sabah's sovereignty rights do not belong to Malaya Federation-Peninsular Malaysia. No amount of threats or warnings in public by Zahid could change this one inalienable fact!

~~ By the Defenders of Philippine Sovereignty
for the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum
10 April 2013

Defence Minister Zahid has strong words for Misuari, warning him not to threaten the sovereignty of MalaysiaApril, 10, 2013 - 12:59 pmThe Borneo Insider

JOLO, Sulu: In a camp set up by the Moro National Liberation Front in this part of southern Philippines, recruits are being trained by veteran combat fighters “to rescue” thousands of Filipinos allegedly being abused by Malaysian security forces in Sabah. 

MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari gave News5 an exclusive peek into the on-going training for members of “Operation Rescue”" as he claimed they were ready to “sustain a war for a hundred years” if necessary. 

Misuari, founder of the original Moro insurgent force in the 1960s, claimed 1,000 of their men have already snuck into Sabah where a stand-off began February 12 between Malaysian forces and followers of the Sulu sultanate out to “reclaim” ancient territory.Misuari stressed that their troops are not allied with the Royal Sultanate Army but have as their main mission the “rescue” of Filipinos allegedly being “abused” by Malaysia. The report was carried by online portal InterAksyon.net. 

Misuari claims recruits are being trained by veteran combat fighters “to rescue” thousands of FilipinosOver 60 Filipinos have died in the standoff, and thousands others are feared caught in the crackdown.Separate from Misuari’s statements, members of the self-styled “Royal Security Force of the Sulu Sultanate” who remain holed up in Lahad Datu, Sabah, claim to have received additional reinforcements from sympathizers in the Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi areas. 

Abraham Idjirani, sultanate spokesman and secretary general, claimed in a phone interview that as of Tuesday, Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram and his Royal Security Force are 400-strong, after dwindling to just over 160 in the face of heavy Malaysian assault. 

Idjirani said more Filipinos went to Sabah on March 29 and April 5 on board boats, able to slip past the naval blockade set up by both the Philippines and Malaysia. He said “70 to 80 per cent” of those who went there were reportedly armed. He said these Filipinos went there on their own due to “accumulated anger” after their loved ones in Sabah were either allegedly killed or harassed by Malaysians. 

Idjirani’s claims could not be independently verified, and Philippine military officials have said that naval forces are in place to block any such attempts to reinforce the sultanate’s followers in Sabah.At the MNLF camp, trainees were being instructed on the use of machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Sulu Gov. Abdulsakur Tan cautioned Misuari against any rash actions, while a military spokesman warned that the supposed rescue plans, if carried out, would go against Philippine policies on the Sabah standoff. 

In SANDAKAN, Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had strong words for Misuari, warning him not to threaten the sovereignty of Malaysia.He said Misuari and his so-called MNLF fighters should not try and test the patience and strength of Malaysian security forces which included the army, police and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. 

“We are ready from any external threat,” Zahid told reporters after visiting the Sandakan Prisons Department Tuesday.Zahid said Misuari had long been rejected and abandoned by his own people. 

“Misuari should ask himself if he is still accepted by the Bangsamoro and if the Philippines recognise him anymore. (The Nur) Misuari era is long gone,” said Zahid. 

According to Zahid it was Malaysia’s intention to find peace in the region as it was the responsibility of neighbours to ensure good relations with one another.

THE REPUBLIC CANNOT HAVE A PARALLEL ARMY AND EXPECT THAT REPUBLIC TO REMAIN ONE SOLID NATION!

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A GOVERNMENT IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO PUT LAW AND ORDER: NUR MISUARI JUSTIFIES THE MNLF ARMED OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE ABU SAYYAF GROUP -- MNLF ACTS MUCH LIKE THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILILPPINES.

While we understand where our esteemed friend Prof Nur Misuari is coming from, we do not believe that the MNLF should replace the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is our belief that the Republic of the Philippines has only one armed forces, and that there CANNOT BE A PARALLEL ARMY. If the government insists on subordinating its powers, as in outsourcing, to a parallel army, even if its the MNLF (which, incidentally, is calling for secession from the Republic), the government is encouraging contempt for everything that the Republic and its institutions should stand for, and inevitably, is encouraging the dismantling of the Republic.

Our Navy has stopped patrolling Scarborough for fear that we might offend China. We have peacenickers right in Kuala Lumpur grovelling before the Malaysians... What's next? We might as well outsource the defence services for this country!

And all this government can do is to issue a limp statement: "Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang said President Aquino did not sanction the MNLF actions against the Abu Sayyaf."

By subordinating law and order powers to the MNLF, this government has encouraged the dismantiling of the Republic! What a crying shame!

REPORT: Nur justifies drive vs Sayyaf
By Rudy Santos, Roel Pareño (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 10, 2013 - 12:00am

“Our people in the MNLF had been waiting for years for possible action on the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or the Philippine government (to deal with the problem of Abu Sayyaf),” he said.

Misuari said the MNLF will take the initiative to restore peace.

“We will restore peace in our homeland with or without the Philippine government, we will do it ourselves,” he said.

.../... “We would like to call on the authority of Malacañang that (this offensive against the Abu Sayyaf) is an internal problem of the MNLF. Internal, notwithstanding the fact that we fought against our former comrades who joined the Abu Sayyaf. They are Muslims also,” Hashim said.

According to Hashim, the problem with the Abu Sayyaf has not been addressed since the administration of former President Fidel Ramos.

Link to full story here.

IN PICTURE (From Philippine Star) MNLF chairman Nur Misuari and wife Tarhata Ibrahim Arsad arrive at the NAIA from North Africa yesterday. RUDY SANTOS

Cory Aquino and Nur Misuari

AT THE END OF THE DAY, NUR MISUARI CAN BE A 'SOFTIE'... NO! NO! That's not meant to malign the MNLF founder and legendary Tausug warrior but merely to say that he is human and appreciates, like many of us, respect and a minimum of courtesy. 

That was actually my reaction after reading a news report in today's Freeman that said, "The stance of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari against the framework agreement may soon soften as a result of the Aquino administration's "talks" with the leader of the former rebel group."

It reminded me of a story that no less than current DND Secretary Voltz Gazmin likes to tell, that of the 1986 historic meeting between the late President Cory Aquino and the legenderary warrior -- or an incident just before the meeting, when she broke protocol and flew to Sulu to sue for peace with the MNLF. Voltz Gazmin, who was then CG, Presidential Security Group, tells the story often enough to highlight the courageous streak in the late president but which also gave us an insight into Misuari's innate Tausug character.

Voltz Gazmin recounted that the event was due to take place right in MNLF lair and as commanding general of the presidential security command, he was naturally apprehensive for the security of the chief executive. The life of the president was in his hands. He remarked that the president felt almost no fear and trusted that she would be able to achieve what she had set out to do. But he did not trust the MNLF, Misuari or not Misuari, to get anywhere near the president especially in Sulu where he would be severely outnumbered if things went wrong. But one thing he did say was that from the onset of the meeting between Cory and Misuari, the Tausug rebel exuded a very courteous demeanour towards the president, almost humble, perhaps, honoured and impressed that the president, a woman to boot, would have the courage to show up in "enemy country."

After a brief courteous exchanges, and just as the serious part of the discussions was about to begin, Mrs Aquino did the most unexpected thing -- which had not been planned at all; she ordered everyone out of the conference room except for a note taker. She decided that she was going to speak to Nur Misuari one-on-one. Voltz was naturally caught off guard. He was adamant that he did not want to leave the president alone with the rebel Tausug Misuari and insisted to be present with the president. But the president refused Gazmin's remonstrances. She was determined that they should be left alone to discuss the proecess of peace. She tried to reassure the PSG chief that everything would be alright and ordered him to leave.

With his heart trepidating, he left and waited outside the conference room. After nearly an hour, the president called for staff and the commander of the PSG. Alongside a meek-looking Nur Misuari, the president announced that they had come to an agreement to go forward to settle matters towards peace. According to Gazmin, he was left speechless. He saw Nur Misuari almost appearing like a lamb, acting with great deference to the president, in other words, respectful.

Cory Aquino left an indelible image of courage and fortitude in General Voltz Gazmin. But unknown to him, he left me personally with the appreciation that Nur Misuari, despite the rhetorics, is a reasonable man, a fierce but also gentle Tausug warrior. And that was what the MNLF commander was like when I finally met him for the first time back in the 90s. 

At the end of the day, negotiating for the much abused 'just and lasting peace' with the 'Moros' may just be possible through Nur Misuari. All it would take is to give him the respect he and his people deserves. 

By Anne de Bretagne
For The Philippine Sabah Claim Forum
24 October 2012

BEWARE OF INDIVIDUALS POSING ON SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES LIKE OMAR KIRAM AND DATU FUAD KIRAM

NUR MISUARI INTERVIEW ON PEACE TALKS AND ON SABAH, ASKS, "WHY DO WE HAVE TO ALLOW MALAYSIA TO INTERFERE IN OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS?"

If only our leaders were a bit brighter, they would realise that Nur could serve as their consultant. He has a few good more years to go. They should bloody take advantage of his close in knowledge of Sabah and Malaysia politics after all Nur Misuari trained in warfare in Sabah before and during the bloody Mindanao secession wars in the 70s and received great support from Kuala Lumpur govt up to the time of PM Mahathir.

Photoof Nur Misuari from Bangsamoro Blog.