IN PHOTO- (At the center, fr left to right). Indonesian Deputy President Jusup Kalla, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, and the Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia (in pink blouse), other Indonesian Officials, and MILF leaders

MILF Leaders Visit Indonesia

• Feb 13, 2018
• HUSAM AL – DEEN, LUWARAN
• HITS: 1237

COTABATO CITY - A delegation of some leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) headed by Chairman Al haj Murad Ebrahim visited Indonesia, and received by Indonesian Deputy President Muhammad Jusup Kalla on February 1, 2018.

Kalla played a major role inside the Indonesian government in the successful resolution of the Aceh peace agreement which the MILF wanted to learn from their successful peace process.      

The Deputy President shared his experience in achieving peace in Aceh that was torn by prolonged conflict between the local armed group, and the Indonesian military.      

" Mutual respect must be the first priority in every peace mission, and secondly, a compromise..., " he added. 

Chairman Al Haj Murad, lauding the development in Aceh province noted that his delegation will learn from the example set by Indonesia in conflict settlement.     

On the same day the MILF delegation was met by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi who conveyed her support to the ongoing peace agreement implementation process between the GPH and MILF in sustaining its gains, and encouraged the same to contribute in the peace building process. 

The parties also discussed the technical assistance on the political, and governance transition of the MILF; Cooperation on trade, and education; and promotion of " peaceful Islam ".

The MILF delegation also met with the different heads, and representatives of Nahdatul Ulama, and Muhammadiyah, and other Indonesian Islamic organizations. 

Meanwhile, upon learning of the visit, some stakeholders in the Moro Homeland are urging the Philippine Government to follow the example of Indonesia which granted a strong form of autonomy to Aceh thereby ending the bloody rebellion in that part of the country.

They said that the implementation of the peace agreements with the MILF, and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) lies mostly in the hands of President Rodrigo Duterte who has strong control over the Senate, and House of Representatives.

Pres. Duterte’s administration must concentrate first in the passage of BBL before the shift to federalism as it takes more time to come up with an agreeable model for the country.

The plan to shift to a federal form of government is being opposed by legal luminaries including some of the surviving framers of the 1987 Constitution.

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Sr. describes the shift to federalism as ‘catastrophic, and even expressed in some interviews that congress should pass first the BBL as a template to federalism.

The shift to federalism is not gaining ground, and Pres. Duterte should fulfill his commitment made before, and during his campaign for the presidency in 2016 to “correct the historical injustices committed against the Moro people,” and even categorically said that, “nothing can appease the Moro people except the passage of BBL.” 

The stakeholders are anxious to learn that Pres. Duterte is true to his words.

IN PHOTO- Chairman Al Haj Murad with Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi  

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