MILF
(Moro Islamic Liberation Front)
Status: ACTIVE
Formed: 1977
Countries of Operation: Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia
Ideology: Nationalist (Moro), Religious (Sunni), Separatist
Group: 15,000
Leader: Ibrahim al Haj Murad
Affiliates: Abu Sayyaf, Al Qaeda, Cordillera Peoples
Democratic Front, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), GIA, Jemaah Islamiya
(JI), Kumpulan Mujahideen Malaysia, Lashkar Jundullah, Moro National Liberation
Front (MNFL), National Democratic Front, Pentagon Kidnap for Ransom Group,
Ulama-Professional Executive Committee, United Youth of the Philippines
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is an Islamic liberation
movement based in the Bangsamoro region in Mindanao and the neighbouring
islands. It is currently the largest Islamic separatist group in the
Philippines, with an estimated 15,000 members. The MILF seeks to establish an
independent Islamic state comprising Mindanao island (the second largest of the
Philippine islands) Palawan, Basilan, the Sulu archipelago, and the neighboring
islands. In support of this aim, the organization has carried out a campaign of
attacks against civilian and military targets throughout the southern
Philippines (International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, 2002).
The group has
been in the spotlight due to revelations of links between key members and Osama
bin Ladin’s al-Qaida network. In 1999, the group’s leader Hashim Salamat,
admitted to recieving “significant funding” from bin Ladin. As many as several
hundred MILF members from Mindanao are believed to have trained at al-Qaida
camps in Afghanistan, and to have established ties with al-Qaida commanders. A
number of the Jemaah Islamiah members arrested in Singapore in 2000 admitted to
having trained at MILF camps, while one of the al-Qaida “consultants” who
advised the Singapore cell had formerly worked as an explosives expert for the
MILF (International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, 2002).
I.
History
The history of the Moro (Muslim) rebellion against
non-Muslim rule stretches back nearly 500 years. Throughout the centuries, the
Muslim population of the Sulu Archipelago and southwestern Mindanao have fought
against the governement of foreign rulers, and no central government has ever
succeeded in establishing complete control over the Moro areas. In the modern
period, this resistance broke out anew with the rise of Islamic nationalism in
the 1970’s. The conflict reached its peak in the period 1970-1983 before
negotiations led to a series of peace agreements between the various separatist
factions and the Manila government (International Institute for
Counter-Terrorism, 2002).
The MNLF, founded and led by Nur Misuari, was the original
political front for the Muslim separatist rebellion. In 1976, Misuari signed
the Tripoli Agreement, the first peace agreement signed between Muslim
separatists and the Philippine government. This led to a political split in the
MNLF, with Salamat Hashim and the more traditional leaders arguing against any
conciliation with Manila. On 26 December, 1977 Hashim announces in Jedda an
‘Instrument of Takeover’ of the MNLF leadership, a move supported by almost
half the organization’s leaders. Misuari countered by expelling Hashim and
charging him with treason. This led to a split in Arab support to the MNLF.
Egypt came out in support of Hashim’s faction while Libya continued to back
Misuari. At this point Hashim moved to Cairo where he announced the
establishment of the “new MNLF” (ICT, 2012).
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leader Salamat Hashim
has stated in past speeches that the ultimate objective of the group is to make
the word of Allah supreme. To this end, the MILF adopted a 20-year, four-point
program to slowly liberate and restore Mindanao and surrounding islands to an
Islamic state in the southern Philippines. The points of this program include
(1) Islamization; (2) organizational strengthening; (3) military buildup; and
(4) financial autonomy. MILF’s ultimate strategic aim (in furtherance of
establishing an Islamic state) is a 50-year, seven-point program which
includes, among other things: the preservation of the patrimony of the Moros in
Mindanao and the defense of their freedom from oppression (The Institute for the
Study of Violent Groups, 2012).
On December 26, 1977, Salamat Hashim began a bid to take
over control of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), a guerilla group
that had been fighting for the independence of the southern Philippines for
many years. Many within the movement were unhappy with the direction it was
taking. Among other critiques of the organization, Hashim, who received his
religious education in Egypt, believed that the MNLF had adopted a
Marxist-Maoist orientation, contrary to the Islamist orientation of Hashim. For
many years, the MNLF operated as two groups with the same name. In 1984, Hashim
declared himself the leader of a new organization known as the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF). MILF is currently the largest, organized armed group
in the Philippines vying for the creation of a separate Islamic state (The
Institute for the Study of Violent Groups, 2012).
In March, 1984, Hashim officially declared the “New MNLF” to
be a separate organisation with the name Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
He announced that the new movement would not only work toward nationalist
goals, but would also work to inculcate a more traditional Islamic religious
education (ICT, 2012).
In January 1987, the MNLF signed an agreement relinquishing
its goal of independence and accepting the government’s offer of autonomy for
the Muslim regions. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front refused to accept the
accord and initiated a brief offensive that ended in a truce later that month
(ICT, 2012).
II.
Leadership
The leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front, Hashim Salamat, comes from an upper class Maguindanaon family and
studied at the prestigious Islamic Al-Azhar University in Cairo. During the
1960’s, he reportedly led the Philippine Students’ Union at Al-Azhar. Upon his
return to the Philippines in 1970, he became a founder member of the MNLF, and
served as second in command until his break with Nur Musauri in 1977. He
served on the MNLF’s negotiating panels during the organization’s talks with
the Marcos government in 1975 and 1976 (ICT,
2012).
When Hashim split from the MNLF, he took with him most of
the group’s more traditionally Islamic leaders, including Rashid Lucman,
Domacao Alonto and Salipada Pendatun. The MILF has always placed greater
emphasis on Islam than the MNLF, and most of its leaders are Islamic scholars
from traditional aristocratic and religious backgrounds (ICT, 2012).
III.
Ideology and Strategy
The stated goal of the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front is the establishment of an independent Islamic state in the
southern Philippines. In this it does not differ significantly from its parent
organization, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). However, the MILF has
stressed the Islamic aspects of the separatist movement. The organization’s
main leaders tend to be Islamic clerics, including Salamat himself. The MILF
advocates self-reliance--militarily, politically, and economically--and rejects
compromise on the issue of independence (ICT,
2012).
The MILF draws it supporters from the 13 Muslim-dominated
provinces and 4 cities on Mindanao and neighboring islands in the south.
Most of its members come from the Maguindanaon and Iranun ethnic groups, with some
support from Maranaw group as well. The MILF enjoys a good deal of popular
support from the rural villages on Mindanao Island (ICT, 2012).
In the late 1990’s, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
claimed to have 120,000 fighters and many more supporters. The organization’s
main military headquarters was at Camp Abubakar until the camp was captured by
the Philippines military in 2000. However, the Philippine government estimates
put the MILF strength at something between 8,000 and 15,000. The majority
of the MILF’s forces are deployed in four provinces of Mindanao: Lanao del
Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and North Cotabato (ICT, 2012).
MILF rebels engage in both terrorism and crime-related
activities. Militants have carried out high-profile kidnapping campaigns in
order to bring attention to their mission, as well as to increase funding. They
have become well-known for targeting wealthy citizens and businessmen in the
Philippines because of the high payout rate for release. In addition to
kidnapping, MILF members regularly bomb and ambush security forces, as well as
civilians, typically in response to suspected government offensives and
violations of the groups’ ceasefire agreement (ISVG, 2012).
IV.
Structure, Funding, Arsenal and Recruitment
A. Structure
The MILF is primarily organized
along hierarchical, paramilitary lines with some cellular components located in
urban areas. It has both a political and military unit, broken into the Central
and Executive Committees and the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF). The
organization also supports a group of spiritual representatives, call shura, as
well as various legitimate connections with supporters, students, Muslim
scholars, and other professionals (ISVG, 2012).
B. Funding
Funding comes from a number of sources, including taxes of
foreign companies, Zakat (charitable donations) given to MILF communities, and
overseas contributions from wealthy Moros. The International Islamic Relief
Organization (IIRO), led by Usama bin Laden’s brother-in-law, Muhammed Jamal
Khalifa, was used as a financial channel for the MILF in order to procure arms
and other equipment. In addition to the IIRO, al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya have
also donated funds to the Filipino terror group. Other charities linked to the
MILF include MERC International (a Saudi charity also established by Khalifa),
the Islamic Wisdom Worldwide Mission (IWWM), and the Daw’l Immam al Shafee
Center. Some MILF members own or manage businesses and funnel money back into
the organization. Additional sources of MILF financing include kidnappings,
drug trafficking, extortion, and contributions from supporters overseas (ISVG,
2012).
C. Arsenal
The MILF reportedly received a shipment of 600 Soviet-made
RPGs in 1995 in Llana Bay, Cotabato City and sent the arms to Camp Abubakar.
They have received arms and other weapons from sub-state groups from around
Southeast Asia, South Asia, and some areas of the Middle East. Iran is even
believed to have provided weapons to the MILF. The group has also been known to
produce its own weaponry including RPGs and mortar rounds (ISVG, 2012).
D. Recruitment
MILF Combat Training
Many of the former and current MILF fighters were originally
involved in the Afghan-Soviet War in the 1980’s. MILF has training operations
for its members at camps in Mindanao, but has also sent recruits to camps in
Pakistan and Libya16. Guerrillas in the southern Philippines have provided
camps for terror training for militant groups from Indonesia and Malaysia for
at least the last decade.
V.
Attacks
In
the early 1990’s the MILF launched a wave of terrorist attacks in the southern
Philippines, leading former Philippines president Joseph Estrada to pursue an
“all-out war” against the organization. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has
resumed peace talks with the MILF since coming to office, and several
ceasefires have been agreed upon, only to be broken in subsequent weeks or
months. In May 2000 the MILF-government talks broke down, and the
Philippine army launched a major assault upon the MILF military headquarters at
Camp Abubakar, capturing the camp. The offensive did not significantly harm the
group’s military capabilities, as most of its senior leaders had been evacuated
before the camp fell. In response to the military offensive, the MILF countered
with a series of bombings in Manila. A splinter group also claimed
responsibility for a bomb attack against the Philippine ambassador to
Indonesia, and a series of bombs that exploded in the capital (ICT, 2012).
In
March 2007, the Philippine government offered to recognize the right of
self-determination for the Moro people which it had never done in three decades
of conflict. However on July 12, 2007, Islamic militants in Basilan
in the southern Philippines killed 14 marines, beheading 11 of them, while 9
other marines were wounded and about 4 rebels were killed[dubious – discuss] (BBC, 2011).. The fighting
took place as the marines were searching for kidnapped Italian priest,
Giancarlo Bossi, on June 10, 2007. A MILF soldier confirmed that some of its
members had been involved in gun battles, despite the MILF peace treaty with
the Philippine government. Mohagher Iqbal, the chief negotiator for the MILF,
denied that it was responsible for the beheadings and the priest's abduction.
On July 19, 2007, despite no ransom being paid, Giancarlo Bossi, who was
kidnapped on June 10 in Zamboanga Sibugay province, was freed. Philippine
authorities described his kidnappers as members of the Abu Sayyaf. Government
authorities blamed a renegade commander of the MILF for Bossi's kidnapping, but
it denied any involvement (Maitem, 2007).
VI.
Peace
Process
In January 1987, the MNLF accepted the
Philippine government's offer of semi-autonomy of the regions in dispute,
subsequently leading to the establishment of the Autonomous Region of
Muslim Mindanao. The MILF, however, refused to accept this offer and continued their
insurgency operations. A general cessation of hostilities between the
government in Manila and the MILF was signed in July 1997 but this agreement
was abolished in 2000 by the Philippine Army under the administration of
Philippine President Joseph Estrada. In response, the MILF
declared ajihad (strived and
struggled) against the government, its citizens and supporters. Under
President Gloria Arroyo, the government entered
into a cease-fire agreement with the MILF and resumed peace talks.
Despite peace negotiations and the cease-fire
agreement, the MILF attacked government troops in Maguindanao resulting in at
least twenty-three deaths in January 2005. The combined armies of the MILF
and Abu Sayyaf were involved in
days of fighting which necessitated government troops using heavy artillery to
engage rebel forces.
In August 2008, the Philippine government was set to sign an
agreement granting the Bangsomoro people autonomy, although the final signing
of the petition was blocked with the Supreme Court of the Philippines declaring
that it was in opposition to the country’s Constitution16. Incidents swiftly
increased as renegade MILF insurgents began attacking government installations
and villages in retaliation for the decision (The Institute for the Study of
Violent Groups, 2012).
Chief peace negotiator Miriam
Coronel-Ferrer said that the government was cautiously optimistic for a final
agreement soon following six days of talks on 13 July 2013. He said: "This
signing indicates that both sides are really committed to finish the peace
negotiations. Nobody wants this not to reach its fruition." The agreement
would see government allowances for the MILF to have a 75 percent share of
earnings from natural resources and metallic minerals in a proposed autonomous
region. For other energy resources, earnings would be split equally in
accordance with Malaysia-brokered talks.
On October 7, 2012, President Benigno Aquino announced a peace deal with the MILF and that
"This framework agreement paves the way for a final and enduring peace in
Mindanao". MILF Vice Chairman Ghazali Jaafar is quoted as saying "We
are very happy. We thank the president for this." The deal was signed on
October 15, 2012. Its aim is to pave the way to enduring peace between the two
parties by officially envisaging an autonomous region in Mindanao. According to the framework,
this semi-independent Muslim area would have a more just share of revenues from
the extraction of its own plentiful resources, budgetary autonomy, its own
police, and sharia law only for Muslims. In exchange for this, the MILF
will stop armed movements against the government for autonomy and will allow
the national government to retain its control of national security and foreign policy.
The autonomy agreement to be gradually implemented will also rename the
region Bangsamoro after the Moro people.
Moros Lay Down Guns in Exchange for Autonomy
PICTURE GALLERY
Founder and former
leader of the Moro
Islamic Liberation
Front, Salamat Hashim.
MILF militants pose with their weapons.
The current leader,
Ibrahim al Haj Murad, is escorted by soldiers during a series of peace talks
held in Malaysia.
Members
of the MILF pray at the end of the holy month
of Ramadhan in
Maguindanao in the southern Philippines.
Filipino troops fire
a canon at a MILF stronghold in Aleosan in the southern Philippines on August
11, 2008.
Leader
Ibrahim al Haj Murad stands with his MILF troops at Buliok Complex , the
rebel base, in Central Mindanao, Philippines.
VIDEO LINKS:
Muslim Rebels ambush a company of Marines
Ebharim Murad of the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front
The Mindanao Peace Process
By: Vantage Point
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDDfcg9_t10
The government
and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed Monday, October 15, the
Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro that would hopefully pave the way for
lasting peace in Muslim Mindanao.
By: Rappler
BIBLIOGRAPHY
References for
Articles:
International Institute for Counter-Terrorism. (2014).
Retrieved from: http://212.150.54.123/inter_ter/orgdet.cfm?orgid=92#history. Retrived on : September 17, 2013.
Institute for the Study of Violent Groups. (2012). Retrieved
from : http://vkb.isvg.org/Wiki/Groups/Moro_Islamic_Liberation_Front#cite_note-1. Retrieved on: September 17, 2013.
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses
to Terrorism. (2013). USA: University of Maryland. Retrieved from: http://www.start.umd.edu/start/data_collections/tops/terrorist_organization_profile.asp?id=3631. Retrieved on: September 17, 2013.
"Rebel
leaders, Filipino officials sign landmark peace deal - CNN.com". CNN. October 16, 2012. Retrieved from: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/15/world/asia/philippines-peace-agreement/index.html . Retrieved on: September 17, 2013.
"Philippines
and Muslim rebels agree peace deal". BBC
News. October 7, 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19860907. Retrieved on: September 17, 2013.
"Breakthrough
seen in Manila's talks with Muslim rebels". Reuters. March 10, 2007. Retrieved from: http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/03/10/idUSSP302379._CH_.2400. Retrieved on: September 17, 2013.
Maitem, Jeoffrey (20 July 2007). "MILF
to Military on Bossi: 'We told you so'". Newsinfo Inquirer. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
References for Pictures:
Olle, J. (2001). File:Pi milf.gif. Retrieved from : Wikipedia.
Retrieved on September 17, 2013.
Institute for the Study of Violent Groups. (n.d.). Moro
Islamic Liberation Front. ISVG Wikipedia. Retrieved from on September 17, 2013.
Diaz, P. (2011, April 18). The price of peace in Mindanao. Retrieved
from : Global Balita. Retrieved on September 17, 2013.
MindanaoBob. (2008, September 11). The Moro Islamic
Liberation Front. Live in the Philippines. Retrieved on September 17, 2013.
Bacongco, K. Eid'l Fitr at the Muslim rebel camp. Retrieved
from : DEMOTIX. Retrieved on September 17, 2013.
Balanza, R. (2008, July 3). Durian Post. Retrieved on September
17, 2013.
Today's Pics, Monday, August 11th, 2008. (2008, August 11).
MilitaryPhotos.net. Retrieved on September 17, 2013.
Group members:
Nescile Jake Ganto
April Lumapas
Elizabeth Herbito
Kharen Aranas
May Baguhin
Johnny Nebris
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