September 28, 2009 – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is for peace and nation-building, said Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim.

MILF Chair Al Haj Murad stressed that in recent meetings at Camp Darapanan with diplomats, journalists, and MILF Central Committee, saying the main thrust of the MILF since inception is to achieve and sustain peace, justice and nation-building, especially for the Bangsamoro people.

It is for that reason, Murad said, why MILF puts paramount importance to the ongoing peace process with the Government of the Republic Philippines, and have been training and preparing its people for peace, diplomacy, development and even post-coflict endeavors.

“Let it be understood that the MILF’s military training is not principally intended for waging war but for us to be ready to defend and fight for our rights and aspirations as aggrieved minority Bangsamoro,” the ne said.

The Chairman believes it is for the best interests of both the government and MILF, the Filipinos and the Moros, to ovecome all the obstacles no matter how hard the challenges along the way just to allow the peace process to succeed.

“I will not stop in appealing for support and assistance from our people and the Filipinos, including the international community, in order to push the GRP – MILF peace process forward, be it at the level of the peace negotiations, reconstruction and development of the conflict affected communties, and ceasefire and security,” he said.

While Murad admitted that the next in line in the organization are more radical, but he expressed optimism that if the peace process will be allowed to succeed, especially by the government and Filipino people, then there will be more than a fair chance to finally resolved the conflict in South of Philippines and the Bangamoro problem.

“Our next generation is at their 30’s to early 40’s and this means they were borned with the war and had been raised with the cruelty of the war that has been going on for more than 40 years,” he pointed out.

“If their selfless struggles and sacrifices for peace will turn into deep frustration and resentment, then they will become more emboldened, more radical and that will be the kind of conflict situation and anarchy that we will have from their generation to next,” he added.

Chairman Murad said if the onoging peace process with the government fails then we are afraid that there will be no more peace process as we have today.

“I don’t see the possibility of another peace process to come if we fail because there will be no more control on the situation then,” Murad said, adding “Aside form the MILF now there is no other group that can have relatively strong control and mandate to negotiate for the legitimate aspiration of the Bangsamoro people for freedom and right to self determination.”