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| Southeast Asia |
| Former Philippine Muslim rebel leader allowed to leave detention for peace anniversary |
| 2006-09-01 |
| A Philippine court on Friday gave former Muslim rebel chieftain Nur Misuari temporary liberty to join festivities marking a peace accord he signed 10 years ago. Misuari, founder of the former mainstream Muslim rebel group Moro National Liberation Front, accepted limited autonomy under the Sept. 2, 1996, peace deal with the government. He later became governor of a predominantly Muslim autonomous region in the southern Philippines. He was arrested in 2001 trying to flee to Malaysia after his followers launched attacks on southern Jolo island that left about 100 people dead. He was charged with rebellion in connection with the attacks and detained in a police camp outside Manila but was later held under house arrest. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which broke from Misuari's group, has continued the struggle for self-rule but agreed to a cease-fire with the government while holding peace talks. The 10th anniversary of the peace agreement was to be celebrated Saturday in southern Davao city. Fidel Ramos, the country's president at the time of the signing, was to attend, officials said. "Misuari's presence is very important in the celebration," said Jesus Dureza, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's peace adviser "We would like to have the key players in that agreement to be present," Dureza said. "It won't be good if one of the principal signatories is absent and even in jail." The Regional Trial Court in suburban Makati city told police to take Misuari to Davao, about 980 kilometers (610 miles) southeast of Manila, early Saturday and bring him back to the Philippine capital by noon. It was the third time that Misuari, 65, was allowed temporary liberty since he was jailed. In January, he was permitted to attend Muslim religious rites in southern Metropolitan Manila. He also was allowed later that month to go to a hospital to receive treatment for hypertension and a respiratory infection. He has expressed support for Arroyo, who has fought an alleged coup attempt and recently survived an impeachment bid. |
| Posted by:ryuge |