Arroyo backs autonomous Muslim region expansion<\/p>\n
MANILA (DPA): Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on
\nFriday backed the expansion of a four-province Muslim autonomous
\nregion in the south to bring peace and spur development in the
\nconflict-wracked island of Mindanao.<\/p>\n
Arroyo said a plebiscite on the issue, scheduled on Aug. 14,
\nwas \"an important event\" to determine if other provinces and
\ncities in the south agree to widening the scope of the Autonomous
\nRegion in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).<\/p>\n
The ARMM currently covers the provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi,
\nMaguindanao and Lanao del Sur.<\/p>\n
If the proposed expansion is approved during the plebiscite,
\nthe ARMM would include a total of 14 provinces and nine cities,
\nincluding the western province of Palawan.<\/p>\n
\"The progress of the ARMM will be good for the future of
\nMindanao,\" Arroyo said in a news conference. \"Regional autonomy
\nis an intelligent alternative to the freedom and independence
\nbeing sought by separatist groups.\"<\/p>\n
She added that the goal of the plebiscite was the \"expansion
\nof peace and development in Muslim Mindanao\".<\/p>\n
ARMM Governor Nur Misuari, chairman of the Moro National
\nLiberation Front (MNLF), a rebel group that signed a peace
\nagreement with the government in 1996, however, opposes the
\nholding of the plebiscite.<\/p>\n
Misuari insists that the plebiscite violates the peace pact
\nbetween Manila and the MNLF, which he claims provides for the
\nautomatic expansion of the coverage of the ARMM after a
\ntransition period.<\/p>\n
\"This will destroy the peace agreement,\" he said in a
\ntelevision interview. \"If that happens, I will report to the
\nOrganization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and tell them that the
\ngovernment has abandoned the peace agreement completely.\"<\/p>\n
The 54-member OIC helped broker the peace agreement with the
\nMNLF and has been monitoring the implementation of the pact.<\/p>\n
Misuari also warned that the MNLF will \"return to our original
\nposition\" - the establishment of an independent Islamic state in
\nMindanao.<\/p>\n
Despite opposing the referendum, the governor allayed concerns
\nthat his men would disrupt the plebiscite with violence.<\/p>\n
The separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which
\nsplit from the MNLF in 1978 and currently holding peace
\nnegotiations with the government, has announced that it will not
\nparticipate in the plebiscite.<\/p>\n
Misuari, who was left out in the reunification talks amid a
\nleadership crisis in the MNLF, criticized the unity agreement as
\na \"conspiracy of the Philippine government\".<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Arroyo on Friday ordered an investigation into
\naccusations by a Catholic priest that some military officials
\nwere coddling Abu Sayyaf rebels holding captive 21 Americans and
\nFilipinos on a southern island.<\/p>\n
Arroyo said she \"would not want to believe\" the accusations
\nthat a general and a colonel were paid to allow the extremists to
\nescape a military cordon in June.<\/p>\n
\"But in the interest of transparency, I have instructed
\nDefense Secretary Angelo Reyes to order an inquiry within the
\ndefense and armed forces community,\" she said at a news
\nconference.<\/p>\n
The controversy centers on the escape of the Abu Sayyaf rebels
\nfrom a hospital and church compound in Lamitan town on Basilan
\nisland province on June 2 despite a military cordon around the
\narea.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/arroyo-backs-autonomous-muslim-region-expansion-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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