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H.E. GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO
PRESIDENT
MALACANANG PALACE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
MADAME PRESIDENT:
PEACE BE UNTO YOU!
Nothing will happen if we will not move, either for better or for worse. Our life on this planet, earth is limited. Every human being is bound to die; make a journey to the land of no return. It is undeniable fact that we are vicegerent of God; responsible for all affairs, mandated to play individual roles for the welfare and interest of mankind irregardless of creed, religion and belief.
We are in conflict for many years back fighting each other for recognition, liberation, freedom and supremacy because of the remnant of colonization imposed upon us by foreign invaders.
There is no denying the fact, as recorded in history, that we, the Bangsamoro have never been subjugated by any foreign invaders. Very unfortunate enough when the Philippines gained its independence in July 4, 1946 from the US Imperialists our very own Mindanao had been annexed immorally and illegally into a Philippine Political Entity.
Hence, as an obligation and duty we raise up arms; continue the struggle of our forbears for several centuries back against now the Manila colonial government. Based not only on all treaties entered into between the various Moro Sultanates and foreign powers including the Wilkes Treaty in 1842 between Sulu and the United States but also the REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4166 (The Law Phil Project, Arellano Law Foundation, Republic Act no. 4166 August 4, 1964 CHANGING THE DATE OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE ), we, the Bangsamoro are duty bound to drive out the AFP-PNP elements that have no business fighting us who are not aware that they are fighting in a foreign territory. AN ACT CHANGING THE DATE OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY FROM JULY FOUR TO JUNE TWELVE, AND DECLARING JULY FOUR AS PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC DAY, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION TWENTY-NINE OF THE REVISED ADMINISTRATIVE CODE,.
Since by virtue of R.A. 4166 Mindanao and Sulu are no longer a part of the Philippines we can already declare independence, as entitled and have the right, similar to General Aguinaldo’s historic Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898.
With the passage of R.A. 4166, the two Sultanates of Sulu and Maguindanao can now restore their lost kingdoms without legal impediment and asking the United Nations International Court of Justice for a judicial review of the December 10, 1898 Treaty of Paris. The Republic of the Philippines must now return a territory that was illegally incorporated by virtue of the 1946 proclamation (not declaration) of independence by the United States of America.
We described the Royal Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo as a lost kingdom, but continue to exist and is recognized as an independent and sovereign state by no less than America. Just recently, last September 20, 2003, the Sultanate adherents of Sulu celebrated their 613th Anniversary with no less than her Excellency, the Madame President as their honored guest. The Royal Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo anti-dated the coming of Spanish colonizers by some 135 years. When Gen. Aguinaldo declared independence, we in Mindanao were still fighting the Spaniards. How can we be a part of the first Philippine Republic? So, the incorporation of Mindanao and Sulu to the Republic of the Philippines by America when she granted us independence on July 4, 1946 was illegal. The cession of Mindanao and Sulu to the Republic of the Philippines was also illegal for where can you find a vendor selling a property she does not own? We call this an international scandal.
With regards to the on going GRP-MILF Peace Talks we believe there is no guarantee to the signing of final agreement as envisioned by your administration. A widely circulated political package allegedly leaked from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) as proposed solution to the Bangsamoro problem. It is sad commentary to state that the government’s proposal is an instrument of surrender as is an insult to the patriotic and freedom loving Bangsamoro people. The Bangsamoro people had never surrendered to the colonial power for more than 377 years of conquest and colonization.
The proposal supersedes all past and present agreements entered into between the GRP and the MILF. Moreover, in substance and in form the proposal has never incorporated or included all GRP-MILF agreements, resolutions and joint statements embodying the parties commitments as solution to the Bangsamoro problem.
At this juncture, we, in the MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT-BANGSAMORO MUJAHIDEEN ALLIANCE (MILF-BMA) an umbrella of the hereunder listed groups:
1. MNLF-EC (Executive Council)
2. MNLF-ICC (Islamic command Council)
3. MNLF-ISNAJI GROUP
4. MNLF-MRG (Misuari Renegade Group) at large
5. MNLF-INTEGREES in both the AFP/PNP
6. Innocent/not criminal but genuine MUJAHIDEEN of the ASG
7. SS&NB Royal Army
8. BANGSAMORO MILITIAS (Numbering 30-50,000)
9. ULAMA of whom 95% are foreign graduates
10. AFP-PNP (Bangsamoro) elements in both active and in-active duty
11. MILF-BMA of the Ustadz/Prof. SMJ, the mainstream a separate entity from that of the MILF (MAGUINDANAON – IRANUN LIBERATION FRONT) of Central Mindanao have nothing to do with the on going GRP-MILF negotiations as it is being dominated by these two tribes whose exclusive sentiments do not reflect the entire sentiments of the fourteen Bangsamoro tribes of Mindanao. With the composition of the MILF Panel, the Secretariat as well as the Technical Committee, Tan Sri Dr. Noordin Sopiee, chair and CEO of ISIS, Malaysia and one of his country’s leading political scientists and economists said, and I quote: “As to his country’s hosting of the GRP-MILF peace negotiations, Dr. Sopiee said his government did not want to do it on the ground that the Muslim problem in Mindanao must be solved by the government of the Philippines, but President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo requested Malaysia’s mediating role. He does not think that reaching an accord will solve the problem in Mindanao. For sure, the talks are useful in that the demands of both parties are being brought out in the open. But the solution goes deeper - the root causes of discontent must be addressed – poverty, poor education, lack of infrastructure. Unless these are resolved, Dr. Sopiee does not see light at the end of the tunnel for Muslims in Mindanao.
He points to the lack of representation of all the Moro tribes in the peace talks. Right now, the composition of the MILF Panel consists of rebel leaders from Maguindanao, and none from the Tausug and Maranao tribes. An accord reached only with the MILF from Maguindanao will only result in resentment, and possibly armed resistance from the MILF-Bangsamoro People’s Army.
“FROM THE STANDS” By Domini M. Torrevilas - - - Viewing Malaysia, The Philippine STAR .(OPINION) Saturday, June 5, 2004.
It is worthy of mention that some groups involved in our struggle such as, AFP-PNP (Bangsamoro) elements, active and inactive services, MILF-Integrees, Ulama, Royal Army because of Malaysian actuation towards us; their insincerity with us which put us in dilemma. UNDER THE CRESCENT MOON: REBELLION IN MINDANAO, By: Marites Danguilan Vitug and Glenda M. Gloria, p. 174 says as follows: “In Sabah we had a common camp (with the MNLF), “ recalls Intengan,. “We helped in training the MNLF in political struggle. They were strong in the battlefield but weak in political struggle so it was a trade-off. They trained us militarily and helped us in arms supply. We did jungle maneuvers, training on explosives and demolition.” Intengan remembers that the MNLF received financial support at least twice a year from foreign countries. But it was clear to him that Malaysia itself did not want the MNLF to win but merely to continuously harass the Marcos government, which was then contesting Malaysia’s sovereign claim over Sabah.
As a consequence Ustadz/Prof. SHARIFF M. JULABBI, Ameer, MILF-BMA and concurrent PM, SS & NB had toured recently in August & September 2004 in the 3 SE Asian countries, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam & Singapore with personal letters of appeal coupled with authentic documents with candidness handed over with no fear and hesitation to some authorities of the said countries headed by YAB DATO’ SERI ABDULLAH BIN HAJI AHMAD BADAWI, PERDANA MENTERI MALAYSIA which herewith attached some, which is self-explanatory.
One of the most stumbling block agenda to solving the Mindanao conflict to be tackled in the forthcoming official resumption of peace talks is the “ANCESTRAL DOMAIN’ refers to the Bangsamoro Homeland .which is not exclusively to Camp Abubakar El-Siddique of Maguindanao. TO HELL WITH THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT FINAL AGREEMENT IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
Being left behind the MILF-BMA in the Peace Talks is a great pleasure and a blessing in disguise to us.. When a conflict / misunderstanding happened between Ustadz SALAMAT HASHIM and Prof. SHARIFF M. JULABBI in the high echelon of the MILF hierarchy one year before he closed his eyes upon the light of the world the latter erased totally from his mind the intention to come to the negotiating table forever which is, to his personal opinion, useless as well as meaningless. USTADZ HASHIM made an attempt to patch up differences by sending envoys to PROF. JULABBI but the initiative has turned to failure until he succumbed to death. May his soul live in peace!
According to some legal minded people, being part and directly involved in the GRP-MILF Peace Talks as the MILF Panel Adviser from 1997 to 2002, that PROF. JULABBI can’t make an excuse by not availing of himself to negotiations because of all previous agreements entered into between the GRP and the MILF are binding on him. Otherwise, he is liable to apprehension as well as condemnation. Hence, the MILF retained but became MONSTER because of the BMA (BANGSAMORO MUJAHIDEEN ALLIANCE) affiliation, according to USEC LT GEN ANTONIO SANTOS (Ret), DND.
Through the initiative of prominent individuals in Manila with of course, the go-signal and consent of both the Malacanang Palace and the Department of National Defense the immediate dispatched of the GRP Panel composed of five members whose Chairman USEC LT GEN ANTONIO SANTOS (Ret), DND, Adviser Gov. of the two provinces of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi / COMSOUTHCOM, AFP /AMBASSADOR / MINISTER, MINISTRY OF MUSLIM AFFAIRS / REAR ADMIRAL ROMULO ESPALDON (Ret) took place on 2nd October 2003 to have met officially the MILF-BMA Panel headed by PROF SHARIFF M JULABBI at Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City in an exploratory talks whose members represented the eleven groups who opted to go beyond their Jakarta Accord of September 2, 1996 not merely in retaliation to the move of the Philippine Government to have jailed PROF NUR MISUARI but determined to go back to their original stand which is to regain their usurped rights and the sovereignty of the two Sultanates of Sulu and Maguindanao. Firmed on their stand no longer mindful of the Jakarta Accord when the MNLF Mujahideen of Nur Misuari headed by USTADZES KHABER MALIK & BASHER JAILANI, HJ JULAMRI MISUARI met recently with PROF JULABBI at Panamao, and by CMDR PAPA, CMDR TAHER USMAN SALIH, CMDR QAYED / MNLF CHAIRMAN at Indanan, 1ST and 2nd districts of Sulu respectively made their pledge of allegiance to carry on the crusade till victory is achieved. To them the 1996 Jakarta Accord is no longer in existence; has been broken already by the Philippine Government; turned into pieces upon the detention of their Chief, PROF NUR MISUARI languishing in jail up to now without trial.
Conniving with the Philippine Government, the then PM MAHATHIR MOHAMMED had turned over the MNLF Chief in conspiracy to them instead of exiling him to any member state of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). That’s why anger, hatred and indignation of the MNLF Mujahideen turned now directly to both governments of Malaysia and the Philippines. So, don’t blame them if they have changed their course of action. To us we welcome them wholeheartedly to march forward with us, join hand in hand to break the chains under the yoke of slavery or oppression and die as
martyr or live as freeman. Justified wars to be waged by the MNLF Mujahideen in the entire Mindanao or Philippines as a whole is to be considered already Wars of the MILF-BMA. Starting long before or today as now being known, the legitimate and justified fight of the MNLF elsewhere in the country is now attributed to the MILF-BMA. Many problems to be solved in Mindanao by the government that have became stumbling block to the peace process. One of which is the rampant catching fish illegally in our rich fishing ground being undertaken by the multi nationals of local and foreign vessels whereby their catches being brought to Luzon and Visayas then exported abroad with no benefits, in return, to the AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO (ARMM). Pity for our local government and small fishermen who are deprived of their own rights and privileges!
Likewise, illegal logging and exploitation of our very own resources being operated by opportunists from Luzon and Visayas are so rampant. These syndicates are being led, in the forefront, by the CONSINJI FIRM / CONCESSION (DACON) occupying vast land in the triple SB of Zamboanga Del Norte area whose numerous security guards equipped with assorted sophisticated firearms are harassing frequently the native inhabitants; resulting clashes or armed confrontation very often between the Moro rebels and AFP elements / CAFGUS who are their backed up supporters. The Arroyo government has to stop these anomalies and atrocities should the Madame President is determined with sincerity to resolve, one way step forward, the conflict in Mindanao.
We are not dictating the Madame President what to do. Prerogative is hers, but for her own good based on our opinion, we give her guidance for enlightenment that she might be able to finish her term.
Good luck and good bye!
Very truly yours,
IBRAHIM HASSAN
Secretary General
Concurrent Qadi al-Qudah
Sultanate of Sulu & North Borneo
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