Misuari seeking political asylum: UN refugee body
Misuari seeking political asylum: UN refugee body
Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur
Captured Philippine Muslim leader Nur Misuari is seeking political asylum, the UN refugee agency said on Tuesday, as Malaysia hinted it could grant him safe passage to a third country.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Shinji Kubo said Misuari filed for asylum through his lawyer in Washington in late November.
"Misuari is asking for asylum so that he will not be returned to anywhere that will endanger his freedom and life," Kubo told AFP.
The Malaysian government has said it would not grant Misuari asylum, but Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad suggested for the first time that it could grant him passage to a third country.
"Indeed we want to deport him. If Manila wants him, then take him ... otherwise, we cannot keep him here. If others are willing to take him, we shall send him there," Mahathir said.
But he was quoted by Bernama news agency as saying that no countries had offered to accept Misuari.
Kubo, who described Misuari's case as "sensitive", said the UNHCR would ask the Malaysian authorities for permission to interview him to confirm the asylum request and to evaluate whether he qualified for UN protection.
In Manila, a Philippine senator on Tuesday warned Malaysia against giving safe passage to a third country for detained Muslim leader Nur Misuari, saying it would be tantamount to giving him asylum.
Senator Rodolfo Biazon, vice-chairman of the senate committee on defense, said Misuari should immediately be repatriated to "face charges under the laws of the republic."
"Any country that will release him or provide him asylum should be considered as committing an unfriendly act towards the government of the Philippines," said Biazon, a former Marine general and armed forces chief.
Meanwhile, Philippines Vice President Teofisto Guingona said on Tuesday that the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) will withdraw the observer status of renegade Misuari after he launched a deadly uprising last month.
Guingona said the OIC "committee of the eight" which monitors the implementation of a 1996 peace pact between Misuari's Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Manila met at the sidelines of an informal ministerial meeting on the Israel-Palestinian conflict recently.
Misuari was detained on Nov. 24 after he fled to the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island after leading an armed revolt in the mainly-Catholic Philippines that left more than 100 people dead.
He faces rebellion and sedition charges in the Philippines, but Manila has made it clear that it is in no hurry to have the former governor of a Muslim self-rule area back home, apparently because it fears new problems from his supporters if he is jailed there.
Malaysia, on the other hand, has said it wants to be rid of him as soon as possible, partly because it also fears trouble from Misuari's supporters, and because it does not want to be tainted with any connection to what could be seen as Islamic terrorism.
The government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad hinted for the first time that Misuari could be sent to a third country if the Philippines did not take him back soon.
"It is a possibility that we will discuss thoroughly," Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted as saying by Tuesday's New Straits Times newspaper.
Malaysia had previously said that it would not provide third country passage for Misuari and would deport him to the Philippines.
But the change in Malaysia's position seems to suggest it is running out of patience as the Philippines delays Misuari's deportation, making it clear that he is a wanted man that nobody really seems to want.
Manila's Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said on Monday Philippines authorities were ready to take custody of Misuari next month.
But a top Malaysian official said Malaysia hoped the Philippines would take back the rebel leader "as soon as possible."