Misuari's aide calls for OIC meeting in Malaysia
Misuari's aide calls for OIC meeting in Malaysia
Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur
An associate of detained Muslim leader Nur Misuari on Saturday called for an emergency meeting of Islamic countries to decide the former governor's fate.
"Currently, it appears that the life and death of (Misuari) is being decided only by two or three of the members of the committee -- Indonesia and Malaysia -- subject to the approval of a non-OIC member, which is the republic of the Philippines," Elly Pamatong, a U.S.-based lawyer, said in a letter to the Organization of the Islamic Conference secretary general Abdelouahed Belkeziz.
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo Friday rejected an appeal from the OIC for Misuari to be given sanctuary in a third country and instead vowed to put him on trial for rebellion.
Arroyo's government was reportedly unhappy about taking Misuari back immediately for fear he could become a rallying point for Muslim discontent in the southern Philippines.
"Since the life of (Misuari) is at stake, it is further submitted that the 57 members of the OIC must be consulted before he is handed over on a silver platter to the Philippines for imprisonment, torture or execution," Pamatong said.
Pamatong, who claims to represent Misuari, also sought for permission to meet and confer with Misuari on or before Dec. 25, in a letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
"Given the total absence of objection from all parties concerned -- even from the Philippine government -- I pray that your Excellency will grant me the privilege of seeing my clients or before Christmas."
Malaysia said Saturday it has decided on a tentative date in mid-January to send Misuari back to the Philippines.
"We still hold on to the understanding that he must be deported as soon as possible... the sooner, the better, because we do not want to be in limbo," Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times daily.
Misuari's followers launched an uprising in the southern Philippine island of Jolo last month in a futile attempt to derail elections that ended Misuari's five-year hold on the governorship of a Muslim self-rule region.
Misuari fled after the short-lived rebellion, and was arrested with six followers off an island in Malaysia's Sabah state on Borneo island on Nov. 24.
The Arroyo government had earlier floated the idea of sending Misuari to Libya to head off a violent backlash by his supporters, but stressed Friday that this was no longer on the table.