MANILA, 11 December — Indonesia wants Nur Misuari to travel to Jakarta to attend the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference’s (OIC) Committee of the Eight on Dec. 12.

But it is not certain whether Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad would release Misuari from detention to allow him to attend.

Misuari was arrested in Sabah, Malaysia, for unlawful entry on Nov. 24, a few days after his faction in the Moro National Liberation Front attacked the military in Jolo, Sulu. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 113 people, mostly followers of Misuari.

Malaysia is a member of the committee that Indonesia chairs. The other members are Brunei, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Bangladesh.

In a letter to Misuari on Dec. 4, Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr. Nur Hassan Wirajuda said his presence was essential at the meeting called upon the request of OIC Secretary General Dr. Abdelouabed Belkezis last month.

Belkezis’ request for an “extraordinary meeting” of members of the committee was prompted by at least two letters from Vice President and Foreign Secretary Teofisto Guingona.

In the letters sent to the OIC in August and September, Guingona said the Philippine government no longer recognized Misuari as chair of the Moro National Liberation Front.

He said Malacañang was recognizing the Council of 15, composed of Misuari’s former lieutenants, as the representative of the MNLF.

But Belkezis said it would be appropriate that the Committee of the Eight discuss issues involving the Muslims of Southern Philippines. He said the committee could then submit its recommendations to the OIC as whole when the body met for its 29th Assembly this month.

MILF’s intercession

Indonesia’s invitation came days after the separatist and MNLF rival Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) asked the OIC to allow Misuari to air his side on the recent development in Mindanao.

MILF Chairman Salamat Hashim wrote the OIC on Dec. 2, days after Misuari’s arrest in Sabah, Malaysia.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu yesterday said Salamat’s letter to the OIC should not in any way be construed as an interference in the dispute between Misuari’s group with Manila as well as with the rival faction of the Council of 15.

Kabalu said the MILF believes that the root cause of the conflict between the Manila and the Misuari faction is confined to the controversial implementation of the Sept. 2, 1996 Final Peace Agreement. He emphasized that the MILF has never recognized that accord.

But Kabalu said the government’s labeling of Misuari as a “terrorist” by lumping him together with the Abu Sayyaf kidnap gang only calls for all sides to be heard.

“Under this development it would be proper that Misuari should be given the opportunity to defend himself in the interest of fairness and justice. Otherwise, how could you expect truth and justice will come out if you do not listen to both sides,” Kabalu said.

‘Terrorist adventures’

Foreign Undersecretary Lauro Baja said the member-countries of the OIC should not take it against the Philippines if it wanted Misuari included in the international list of terrorists “because they themselves are against terrorism.”

Baja was reacting to suggestions that the OIC might become more sympathetic to Misuari if he were included in the list.

The MNLF is the representative of the Bangsamoro people in the OIC, which has yet to withdraw its recognition of Misuari as leader of the group.

Thus, Misuari remains the sole representative of the Bangsamoro people in the OIC, where the MNLF enjoys observer status.

Still, Baja said Misuari might no longer enjoy such “high regard” from the Islamic states after “his terrorist adventures.”

Legislators in Manila, meanwhile, urged the government to get Misuari before Malaysian leaders chang their mind and let him walk free.

Negros Occidental Rep. Jose Apolinario Lozada said the government would have itself to blame if Misuari succeeded in seeking asylum in another country.

“We have all the chance to lay our hands on him but it looks like we are blowing it,” Lozada, chair of the House foreign affairs committee, said in a statement. The president had earlier said she was not bent on having Misuari immediately deported.

Sen. Teresa Aquino-Oreta urged Malacañang to bring Misuari home to avoid a diplomatic row with Malaysia and the international Islamic community.

Oreta said Misuari should be made to face charges of rebellion and misappropriation of public funds while ARMM governor.

Oreta also said Malacañang’s “hemming and hawing” on the issue might be misconstrued by the OIC as harassment of the ex-governor and result in a diplomatic row with the powerful body.

‘We’re ready for him’

President Gloria Arroyo yesterday said her administration was ready for the MNLF founder and was actually “preparing for his jail cell.”

She clarified that only Malaysian police had cleared the ex-governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao of alleged involvement in the Sipadan kidnappings last year, and that Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir had yet to do so.

“What the (Malaysian) police said is that they don’t have enough evidence. (The report) doesn’t say they cleared him,” the president told reporters after addressing the National Socio-Economic Summit at the Manila Hotel.

“We also checked with Malaysia last night. That (report) is at the level of the police. That’s not the level yet of the prime minister.”

Nevertheless, the government is prepared to deal with Misuari in the event that Malaysia deports him, the president said.

Thompson Lantion, head of the Philippine National Police’s Directorate for Police Community Relations, said “the warrant of arrest will be served” on Misuari on his setting foot on Philippine soil.

The PNP earlier filed rebellion charges against Misuari with the municipal trial court in Jolo, and a warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest. Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said the government was ready to “throw the book” at Misuari.

“We will prosecute him to the fullest extent (of the law) — if the evidence so warrants,” Perez told reporters.

Abu Sayyaf man speaks

In Davao del Norte, Nadzmie Saabdulla, the supposed chief of staff of the Abu Sayyaf, said it was true that Misuari had no hand in the kidnappings in the Malaysian island of Sipadan and parts of Mindanao.

“I don’t know why the government keeps saying that he’s involved in the kidnappings. That’s not right,” Saabdulla, also known as Commander Global, told reporters in Filipino from his detention cell.

Saabdulla said Misuari only tried to secure the release of the Sipadan hostages and the others when he spoke with Abu Sayyaf leaders in Sulu and Basilan.

“He wanted to negotiate but many of our commanders did not want to deal with him,” Saabdulla said without elaborating.

During the Sipadan crisis, Misuari tried to establish contact with Abu Sayyaf leaders, including the Sulu-based Ghalib Andang or Commander Robot. But he failed in his efforts to secure the release of the hostages, most of them foreigners.

The Abu Sayyaf instead talked with former Malaysian Sen. Sairin Karno and released the hostages on his intervention.

Global, who was arrested in General Santos City for his alleged role in the attack on the Barcelo Pearl Farm in May, also took the opportunity to, as he put it, “set the record straight.”

He said that while he served as spokesman for the Abu Sayyaf during the Sipadan crisis, he was not directly involved in the kidnappings.