JEDDAH, 10 November 2007 -- The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) will open today in Jeddah a Tripartite Meeting with representatives of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Philippine government to discuss the implementation of the 1996 peace accord that was meant to end decades of fighting in the southern Philippines.

OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu will chair the opening of the three-day meeting at the council's headquarters, the OIC said in a brief press statement.

The opening of the meeting will be preceded by an expanded meeting of the Committee of Eight, chaired by Indonesia, which is in charge of the southern Philippines issue, said the statement.

Ihsanoglu welcomed the decision of a Philippine court to allow detained MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari to attend the meeting.

But other participants and Philippine Consulate officials yesterday said it was doubtful whether Misuari could make it.

"The court order provided that he submits a sovereign guarantee from Saudi government. Considering that there is lack of time to get such a guarantee, it's doubtful if he could attend," said Foreign Undersecretary Rafael E. Seguis, who is part of the Philippine government delegation.

Seguis said Misuari's lawyers have appealed the court's ruling in a bid to remove the "sovereign guarantee" as one of the conditions for allowing Misuari and his spiritual adviser and co-inmate to leave for Jeddah. The other condition was for the duo to be back in Manila on Nov. 13.

MNLF representatives were not immediately available for comment. Consulate personnel, who asked not to be named, said MNLF members who arrived yesterday were disappointed that Misuari's was not coming.

The MNLF delegation is led by Dr. Parouk Hussin, who succeeded Misuari as governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 2001.

Nonetheless, Seguis explained that Misuari's absence should not affect the meeting since "this one is just preparatory."

"The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the terms of reference for the main event, particular agenda items as well as the implementation of Phase 2 of the peace agreement of 1996," Seguis explained in an interview.

Phase I of the peace accord included the integration of former MNLF fighters into the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, as well as the implementation of economic development projects in parts of the southern Philippines that were covered by the peace pact.

Misuari and other MNLF leaders and members, however, have complained with the OIC that the Philippine government has refused to honor the agreement in its entirety. This was the same reason cited by Misuari and his followers in launching a rebellion in 2001.

After his forces tried, but failed to overrun a military base in Jolo Island, Misuari fled to Malaysia, where he was held and deported to Manila.

Last year, the OIC sent a high-level delegation to the southern Philippines to look into the MNLF's complaint.

According to a list of participants obtained from the consulate, the Manila delegation is headed by Undersecretary Nabil Tan of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. Its members include ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, Education Undersecretary Manaros Boransing and Undersecretary Seguis.

Philippine Ambassador to Riyadh Antonio P. Villamor and Consul General Pendosina N. Lomondot of Jeddah were also tasked to participate in the meeting, during which working committees are to discuss various concerns raised by the MNLF.

By Ronald Concha

© Arab News 2007