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"PANEL TO PANEL"
Mr. Chairman, distinguished counterparts, colleagues, friends, ladies & gentlemen:
Peace Be With You And The Blessings Of Allah!
Even though how careful you are it's going to happen inevitably to your life as inscribed in a 'Tablet Pressured', you can do nothing but to admit the Law of Divine Providence as human being governed by circumstances. "Such was the practice approved of God among those who live aforetime no change wilt thou find in the practice approved of God".
(33:62), "And my success [in my task] can only come from Allah" (Surah Hud:
To trace our biography; the history of our life, both I and Ustadz SALAMAT HASHIM, the Founder of the 1984 MILF have been together from the very start of the Moro Liberation Front that was conceived, way back in the early 60's at the Great Land of Egypt, as the nucleus members of the "Round Table". But, unfortunately because of interruption which was unavoidable, pushed us to find our exit to look for another ways taking along with us our very own principles to struggle for the destiny of the Bangsamoro Ummah.
With the New Substitute Front (The MILF) I've been always subservient in a sincere manner to the Supremo of the hierarchy for the past 18 years and never thought of breaking away from him for I believe I possess the same principle with the guy I've been together under the portal of the same Alma Mater (Al-Azhar University) and drunk together from the same Fountain of Knowledge.
But to some extent maybe because of hatred and jealousy owing to the competition for supremacy of which I am innocent for no justification whatsoever, I was urged to keep silent, compelled to step down to just a mere member of the organization. Should there be a justification then I would have made a declaration likened to Khaled Ibn-el Walid, the great warrior and general of Islam. With regards to me I fight not for SALAMAT but for the LORD of Salamat. With our new Front now I venture to declare I shall fight to the end under no circumstances to make the Words of God supreme.
With my old and new comrades now I would like to be understood that I have my own policy and principle which do not deviate from the Teachings of the Qur'an and the Prophetic Traditions and I am determined to live and die under the banner of Islam no matter how the times change chronologically and always frank and candid as ever as I used to be and serious in all my undertakings.
I know among our midst there many radical/hardcore stick to no negotiation; come to the extent of questioning the pattern how the war in Mindanao is being fought as they have observed that the two Fronts have adopted a "fight-negotiate-fight-negotiate" type of their strategy. What is the reason behind it, they asked?
Not only because of my direct involvement in all levels of negotiations between the GRP and the MILF which started in July, 1997 up to present and the previous agreements entered into bound on me, but the following Qur'anic verses of the Surah Al-Anfal as well as the Sunnah of the Prophet Mohammad Ibn Abdillah (pbuh) provide us with the
guidelines we have to incline to peace talks: .
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"But if the enemy incline towards peace, make peace with them, and put your trust in God: for He is the One that hears and knows all things".
They went on to ask, what if the enemy break their covenant?
Answer: "Should they seek to deceive you, Allah is all-sufficient for you. He has made you strong with His help and rallied the faithful round you, making their hearts one". (8:62)
"For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are those who reject Him: they will not believe. They are those with whom thou didst make a covenant but they break their covenant every time and they have not the fear of God" (8:55-56)
So, our course of action is:
Slogan: "If you want peace, be ready for war"
"Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of God and your enemies" (8:60)
(???????: 8:60)
When the GRP-MILF peace talks started in July 18, 1997 at Cagayan de Oro City it began with the signing of the Agreement of General Cessation of Hostilities whose areas of Coverage shall be in effect in the provinces, cities, and other places in Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan.
And halted temporarily after the signing of the last Agreement on the 7th day of August, 2001 at Putrajaya, Malaysia that based on the following Agreements entered into between the GRP and the MILF which became our Terms of Reference:
1. GRP-MILF Agreement for General Cessation of Hostilities dated July 18, 1997 including its Implementing Administrative Guidelines dated September 12, 1997 and Implementing Operational Guidelines dated November 14, 1997.
2. General Framework of the Agreement of Intent between the GRP and the MILF dated August 27, 1998.
3. .GRP-MILF Agreement on Safety and Security Guarantees dated March 09, 2000.
4. Agreement on the General Framework for the Resumption of Peace Talks between the GRP and the MILF signed on the 24th day of March, 2001 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
5. Agreement of Peace between the GRP and the MILF signed on June 22, 2001 at Tripoli, Libya.
In this respect we are ready to negotiate with no fear. Our war is a War of Destiny of our people and Ideology, and it does not know any geography and frontier. We must, in our way of ideology, embark on a major mobilization of the Bangsamoro combatants in the entire archipelago.
Our peace talks if there is formal one in the near future should base on a primary objective of the attainment of a just comprehensive and lasting peace under the rule of law and in accordance with the mutually acceptable principles instead of the constitution will be used as bases for peace negotiations to avoid collapse or short live of it as embodied in all terms of reference.
To pave the way for immediate normalization of the situation in Mindanao as has been agreed upon by the two parties (GRP-MILF) mentioned in the Article VI of the Agreement on the General Framework for the Resumption of Peace Talks we are very much willing to push through with the peace process and to undertake relief and rehabilitation measures of the evacuees and joint development projects in conflict-affected areas as we have been empowered and authorized to establish a project implementing body which will have the power and function to receive and disburse private and GRP funds as well as to determine, lead and manage.
Good day to everyone and may God bless us all!
Ustadz/Prof. SHARIFF MOHSIN JULABBI |
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