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."