Misuari seeking political asylum: UN refugee body<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Captured Philippine Muslim leader Nur Misuari is seeking
\npolitical asylum, the UN refugee agency said on Tuesday, as
\nMalaysia hinted it could grant him safe passage to a third
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Shinji
\nKubo said Misuari filed for asylum through his lawyer in
\nWashington in late November.<\/p>\n
\"Misuari is asking for asylum so that he will not be returned
\nto anywhere that will endanger his freedom and life,\" Kubo told
\nAFP.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian government has said it would not grant Misuari
\nasylum, but Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad suggested for the
\nfirst time that it could grant him passage to a third country.<\/p>\n
\"Indeed we want to deport him. If Manila wants him, then take
\nhim ... otherwise, we cannot keep him here. If others are willing
\nto take him, we shall send him there,\" Mahathir said.<\/p>\n
But he was quoted by Bernama news agency as saying that no
\ncountries had offered to accept Misuari.<\/p>\n
Kubo, who described Misuari's case as \"sensitive\", said the
\nUNHCR would ask the Malaysian authorities for permission to
\ninterview him to confirm the asylum request and to evaluate
\nwhether he qualified for UN protection.<\/p>\n
In Manila, a Philippine senator on Tuesday warned Malaysia
\nagainst giving safe passage to a third country for detained
\nMuslim leader Nur Misuari, saying it would be tantamount to
\ngiving him asylum.<\/p>\n
Senator Rodolfo Biazon, vice-chairman of the senate committee
\non defense, said Misuari should immediately be repatriated to
\n\"face charges under the laws of the republic.\"<\/p>\n
\"Any country that will release him or provide him asylum
\nshould be considered as committing an unfriendly act towards the
\ngovernment of the Philippines,\" said Biazon, a former Marine
\ngeneral and armed forces chief.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Philippines Vice President Teofisto Guingona said
\non Tuesday that the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) will
\nwithdraw the observer status of renegade Misuari after he
\nlaunched a deadly uprising last month.<\/p>\n
Guingona said the OIC \"committee of the eight\" which monitors
\nthe implementation of a 1996 peace pact between Misuari's Moro
\nNational Liberation Front (MNLF) and Manila met at the sidelines
\nof an informal ministerial meeting on the Israel-Palestinian
\nconflict recently.<\/p>\n
Misuari was detained on Nov. 24 after he fled to the Malaysian
\nstate of Sabah on Borneo island after leading an armed revolt in
\nthe mainly-Catholic Philippines that left more than 100 people
\ndead.<\/p>\n
He faces rebellion and sedition charges in the Philippines,
\nbut Manila has made it clear that it is in no hurry to have the
\nformer governor of a Muslim self-rule area back home, apparently
\nbecause it fears new problems from his supporters if he is jailed
\nthere.<\/p>\n
Malaysia, on the other hand, has said it wants to be rid of
\nhim as soon as possible, partly because it also fears trouble
\nfrom Misuari's supporters, and because it does not want to be
\ntainted with any connection to what could be seen as Islamic
\nterrorism.<\/p>\n
The government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad hinted for
\nthe first time that Misuari could be sent to a third country if
\nthe Philippines did not take him back soon.<\/p>\n
\"It is a possibility that we will discuss thoroughly,\" Deputy
\nPrime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted as saying by
\nTuesday's New Straits Times newspaper.<\/p>\n
Malaysia had previously said that it would not provide third
\ncountry passage for Misuari and would deport him to the
\nPhilippines.<\/p>\n
But the change in Malaysia's position seems to suggest it is
\nrunning out of patience as the Philippines delays Misuari's
\ndeportation, making it clear that he is a wanted man that nobody
\nreally seems to want.<\/p>\n
Manila's Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said on Monday
\nPhilippines authorities were ready to take custody of Misuari
\nnext month.<\/p>\n
But a top Malaysian official said Malaysia hoped the
\nPhilippines would take back the rebel leader \"as soon as
\npossible.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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