RI favored to chair Moro conference

JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Nur Misuari, hopes Indonesia will chair the special commission that will discuss the Moro issue at the ongoing Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Casablanca, Morocco.

The Moro guerrilla group has given up its campaign for a separate Islamic state in exchange for autonomy in the Moslem- populated regions.

The conference, which is also being attended by Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and foreign ministers of other Moslem countries, was opened over the weekend.

"We sincerely hope the Indonesian delegation to the OIC special commission will chair the session and find a fresh way to achieve a lasting peace in our country, " he said as quoted by Antara on Saturday.

He also hoped that the Indonesian delegation would brief other OIC members on the true situation in his country.

Misuari, who in the past has led MNLF delegations to peace talks both in Indonesia and the Philippines, is now leading another MNLF delegation to the Casablanca meeting.

Jakarta has taken an active role in the effort to find a solution to the crisis between the Philippine government and the Moslem people in the south of the country. So far Indonesia has hosted two peace talks on the issue.

An Indonesian military team is now in southern Philippines to monitor the cease-fire agreement reached between MNLF and Manila recently.

Misuari said the peace negotiations between his group and the Philippine government had managed to eliminate several hurdles and is now approaching the final stages, although some problems will have to be discussed again at the next formal meeting in Jakarta in May 1995.

"That is why we hope that the ongoing OIC meeting and the summit conference, which will be opened on Tuesday, will make some contribution to the peace efforts," he said.

Misuari also hopes to get some aid for the Moro cause from OIC member countries. (tis)