Renegade Philippine Governor held

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, NOV. 24. Mr. Nur Misuari, chief of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and former Governor of the autonomous region of Muslim Mindanao, was arrested off the Malaysian island of Sabah this morning.

The official Malaysian news agency, Bernama, said Mr. Misuari and some of his associates were arrested for entering Malaysia illegally. A Malaysian police official was quoted as saying that Mr. Misuari, whose followers recently attacked Philippine military positions, had come into Malaysia through the southern Filipino island of Jolo. ``We will inform the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur as soon as possible as we have to consider that he is wanted by the Philippine Government,'' the official added.

In a related development, the Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, said his country was not prepared to grant political asylum to Mr. Misuari. ``This is an internal matter of the Philippines and Malaysia should not intervene by providing refuge to rebels from other countries,'' Dr. Mahathir was quoted as saying by Bernama.

``Autonomy has been accorded but unfortunately when in power, they did not use their power for the development of the southern Philippine region. Instead, we find its leaders like Misuari were seldom in the southern Philippines. They were more often outside the country or in Manila,'' Dr. Mahathir said.

Malaysia, the Prime Minister said, had previously helped Mr. Misuari in arriving at a political solution with the Philippine Government, but found that he did not do much for the people of the southern Philippines after becoming Governor. ``So therefore, we no longer feel responsible to provide him any assistance,'' Dr. Mahathir added. The Prime Minister's categorical statement can only mean that Mr. Misuari and his associates will be handed over to the Philippine Government in Manila.

Such a ``handing over'' will be seen as a major success for the Philippine President, Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, after the attacks launched by Mr. Misuari's MNLF on the Philippine military in which over 50 persons are reported to have been killed. There have also been reports that Mr. Misuari and his followers have made common cause with the Abu Sayyaf, who specialise in kidnappings for ransom. Such reports have, however, still to be confirmed.

How Ms. Arroyo deals with Mr. Misuari will also indicate whether she favours a political or law and order approach towards the MNLF. Currently, Manila is engaged in talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for a political resolution of the problems in Mindanao. Mr. Misuari's problems arose after it became clear that the Philippine Government was backing the leader of a splinter MNLF faction to become Governor of the autonomous region of Muslim Mindanao in his place in the November 26 elections.

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Section  : International
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