ZAMBOANGA CITY, 7 December — As government prosecutors readied rebellion charges against the armed followers of Nur Misuari, aides of the former ARMM governor yesterday lashed out at the government for engaging in the classic "colonial divide and conquer" method.
"… it is very clear from the beginning, the Philippine colonial government wanted merely to suppress the sentiments for greater freedom of the people of Mindanao as well as to discredit the person of MNLF Chairman Prof. Nur Misuari," said a statement issued by Moro leader’s camp.
It said that Misuari was holding the Arroyo administration "morally and criminally responsible" for the revival of the war between the government and his MNLF fighters.
The statement repeated claims made previously by Misuari’s commanders in Mindanao that they were provoked into attacking military camps in Sulu province on Nov. 19.
The military has claimed more than 100 of Misuari’s fighters were killed when they simuiltaneously attacked six military camps on Jolo Island, Sulu.
Several more were reported slain last week in fighting between Misuari’s men who holed themselves up at a government center in Cabatangan Hill overlooking Zamboanga City.
Formal charges are expected to be filed by the government against leaders of the uprising, according to the Department of Justice. The filing of charges is said to be part of a plan to pressure the group to hand over their firearms to the government, on the belief that these were bought by Misuari using funds for the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Misuari had been accused of corruption for having shown no tangible accomplishments during his five year tenure as ARMM governor and chairman of the Southern Philippine Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD). During those years, the government poured in billions of pesos to the region. Misuari, however, claims that the amount were barely enough for the salaries of regional employees and maintenance operating expenses.
The funds intended for infrastructure projects were all channeled through the government line agencies, he said.
The ARMM is now led by Parouk Hussin, a Tausug like Misuari and a doctor by profession who became foreign minister of the MNLF. Hussin and other senior officials of the MNLF formed themselves into a Council of 15 and replaced Misuari as chairman last May.
On his assumption of office on Monday after his poll victory, Hussin offered peace to Misuari’s armed followers and at the same time threatened to unleash the force of law against those who opt to fight.
The statement issued by Misuari’s group in Jeddah yesterday, however, made no mention at all of Hussin and Council of 15 who claim to have on their side the majority of the MNLF’s former fighters. Most of these have been integrated into the military and police as part of the 1996 peace agreement between the MNLF and the government.
