Philippine Muslims resume separatist call

By Rufi Vigilar in Manila

MANILA, Philippines -- A faction of former Muslim separatists who signed a 1996 peace deal with the Philippine government has resumed its call for an independent Islamic state.

The group led by Nur Misuari, who was recently replaced as chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), is demanding that a plebiscite on an independent "Bangsamoro Republic" be held in Mindanao, the country's largest island.

Mindanao is predominantly Christian but Muslim residents claim it as their ancestral domain, having fought Spanish and American colonizers for more than 400 years.

MNLF spokesman Majindra Majilon said in an ABS-CBN interview that the government should now think of asking Mindanao residents "if they want to be part and parcel of the Republic of the Philippines or be like East Timor."

The former Portuguese colony of East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia in August 1999 under a UN sponsored referendum.

'No' to autonomy

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Majilon's statement comes amid a vote count on Muslim autonomy in 15 provinces and 14 cities on Mindanao.

The 'no' votes have been gaining an "overwhelming trend" since Tuesday's poll, Commission on Elections executive director Mamasapunod Aguam told CNN.

At least 50% of the votes have already been counted, said Aguam. "Final results will be announced within three days."

The government had campaigned for an expanded Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), hoping to subdue separatist efforts by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) -- a breakaway faction of the MNLF.

The ARMM at present comprises only four provinces of which Misuari is chief governor.

But the Christian majority in most of the provinces where the plebiscite was held has voted against a larger ARMM.

Analysts say the vote is less a religious issue than one of effective governance.

The autonomous region has been characterized by unfinished infrastructure projects, prompting the governors of the four existing ARMM provinces to threaten to withdraw from the region in 1999.

Governor Misuari has also been accused of being unable to account for 18 billion pesos ($350 million) in ARMM funds.

'Conspiracies'

Majilon blamed "domestic and international conspiracies" for the bad publicity of the ARMM and their campaign against the August 14 plebiscite.

He called the plebiscite a "unilateral act" by the Philippine government that should not have taken place at all.

Misuari's faction has been calling for "tripartite meetings" with the Philippine government and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), ahead of a plebiscite.

Although the autonomy plebiscite is stipulated in the 1996 peace deal, Majilon said the OIC had warned the Philippine government against holding the poll without adequate consultation.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Eduardo Ermita, dismissed the Misuari faction's claims, saying that it has been "singing that tune before."

He said the Misuari faction would not get any international support from key Muslim countries like Libya and Malaysia for any independence moves.

"[Libyan leader Moammar] Gadhafi and [Malaysia's Prime Minister] Mahathir have stated in unequivocal terms that they would not support any move for Muslim independence," Ermita told CNN.

He added that Misuari is apparently afraid of losing his clout as ARMM governor, ahead of regional elections on November 26.

"The government is offering (Misuari) an appointive post if he still wants to be part of government," Ermita said. "Or he can run again as ARMM governor."

Ermita also said that the OIC would not be dealing with Misuari but the newly appointed 15-man executive committee of the MNLF, which replaced Misuari.

The MNLF leadership and the MILF signed a unit agreement in Malaysia earlier this month that could lead to an overall peace deal with the Philippine government.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made a state visit to Malaysia shortly after for the signing of a ceasefire deal with the MILF.