Manila, Nov. 25, 2001 - (STAR) By Roel Pareño - Outgoing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Nur Misuari was arrested by Malaysian police before dawn yesterday on an island near the Philippine-Malaysian border, Malaysian officials said yesterday.
Malaysia’s official Bernama News Agency reported Misuari’s arrest as Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad admonished Misuari and ruled out granting political asylum to the former chairman of the separatist Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
President Arroyo praised Malaysian authorities for the swift arrest of Misuari, who was captured with six unidentified followers at about 3:30 a.m. at Jampiras island, the island closest to the border and about 30 minutes by boat from Sandakan, Sabah.
The arrest of Misuari came virtually on the eve of the ARMM elections which he sought to discredit.
Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said Misuari was being held at the Sabah state capital of Kota Kinabalu.
Tiglao said Manila would seek Misuari’s immediate repatriation but hinted the government would not object if Malaysia chooses to detain him for violating Malaysia’s "very strict" security laws.
"We have to respect Malaysia as an ally and friendly government," Tiglao said. "(But) we may request for his (repatriation) because we want him to face justice here.
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Malaysian Inspector General of Police Norian Mai said Misuari and his followers were arrested for "entering Malaysia illegally" and that Kuala Lumpur would hand over Misuari as soon as possible.
"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," Mai said.
Misuari has been wanted for rebellion since his followers attacked military positions in Jolo, Sulu on Nov. 19.
The government filed the rebellion charges in a Sulu court against Misuari and faction leaders of the Abu Sayyaf group, which has haunted southwestern Mindanao with murders and kidnapping over the past few years.
The court has issued a warrant for Misuari’s arrest, the basis for the cancellation of the fugitive’s two passports by the Department of Foreign Affairs last Friday.
The military said Misuari fled the country after government troops repulsed the attack, which resulted in the death of at least 113 people, more than 100 of whom were Misuari followers.
While Malaysia had given refuge to Misuari and his lieutenants at the height of the Mindanao war in the 1970s, Mahathir said Malaysia would no longer grant political asylum to the fugitive warlord.
"This is an internal matter of the Philippines and Malaysia should not interfere by providing refuge to rebels from other countries," Bernama quoted Mahathir as saying.
Mahathir also used strong words to admonish Misuari and his MNLF faction for failing to fulfill their promises of progress and development for Muslim Mindanao.
"Autonomy has been accorded but unfortunately when in power, they did not use their power for the development of the southern Philippine region," the prime minister said.
"Not much had been done for the benefit of the people... So therefore, we no longer feel responsible to provide him any assistance," Mahathir added, noting that Misuari was often in Manila or abroad and was seldom in Mindanao.
Misuari’s arrest came a day before the ARMM elections that would elect Misuari’s successor and the region’s legislative assembly.
The holding of the elections was among the reasons Misuari cited for the Nov. 19 attack on Sulu, leading local Mindanao leaders to conclude that he was simply interested in keeping his post as ARMM governor.
Misuari founded the MNLF in the 1970s and launched a 30-year rebellion, which gained the sympathy of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).
Hiding in Muslim countries, like Libya and Saudi Arabia, Misuari bolstered his international prestige and managed to wangle from the government a peace agreement, brokered by Indonesia, which was signed in Jakarta in 1996.
As a reward for the peace pact, the government appointed him ARMM governor and was re-appointed several times while he repeatedly asked Manila to postpone elections.
But after five years as ARMM governor with budget allocations totaling some P43 billion, the ARMM remains among the country’s most impoverished regions, continually threatened with war.
Misuari’s colleagues in the MNLF were disillusioned with his leadership and, in April, ousted him as MNLF chairman and replaced him with a Committee of Fifteen.
Wanting to take another tack on Mindanao development, President Arroyo backed the gubernatorial candidacy of physician Farouk Hussin, a member of the Committee of Fifteen.
Misuari was offended by the series of defeats and allegedly forged alliances with armed groups, including Abu Sayyaf factions, to renew hostilities, leading to the Nov. 19 attack on Jolo, Sulu.
In her first press briefing after a working visit to the US, the President derided Misuari for shaming the MNLF and forging an alliance with the Abu Sayyaf, which has been tagged as an international terrorist group.
"It’s not right to identify Misuari (with the) MNLF anymore," she said. "It’s better to identify him with the Abu Sayyaf."
The President noted that while Misuari may be reputed to be a "good warrior," he has proven to be poor administrator as he has yet to account for the billions of pesos the government released for various infrastructure projects in the ARMM. — With Marichu Villanueva
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