By IINA,
Jeddah : The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu expressed his deep concern over the recent outbreak of hostilities in the Muslim region of Mindanao in southern Philippines, giving rise to a military standoff between the Philippine military forces and elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The Secretary General condemned the illegitimate acts conducted by wayward elements affiliated with the MILF refusing to abide by the repeated appeals by the Front’s leadership to maintain calm, peace and restraint. In a statement, the OIC Chief also called on the Philippine government to put an end to its military operations in the region which inflicted tremendous damage among civilians.
Similarly, Prof. Ihsanoglu expressed concern over reports that the Philippine government intends to freeze the memorandum agreement for ancestral domain which came about as a result of strenuous, long and sincere efforts by both sides. “It is unfortunate to let undisciplined elements from the MILF determine the course of negotiations or halt the peace process,” he said. The Secretary General urged the parties to the conflict to rapidly return to the negotiating table and continue working together in the same positive spirit that led to the conclusion of the agreement. The parties, he added, need to preserve and build upon the accomplishments so far achieved in a bid to reach the just and durable peace desired by all.
The Secretary General further stated that all friends of the Philippines, notably Malaysia, which has played a key role in facilitating the process towards the agreement had expressed the hope that the Philippine government and the MILF would persevere in their efforts to support peace and restore calm and stability in southern Philippines. He stressed that the parties ought to work out a swift settlement to the current crisis that threatens to thwart the peace process and refrain from giving extremist elements the opportunity to dictate their own agenda or determine the course of events.