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Raissa Robles

The Islamic Development Bank has  allocated US$16 million to a former Philippine rebel group whose leader is in detention, accused of leading a rebellion that killed 113 people.
The funding bypasses  President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's  government and thwarts her efforts to marginalise the group's detained leader, Nur Misuari.
Eliseo Mercado, a Catholic priest who serves as Misuari's  policy adviser, said the grant amounted to official recognition by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) that 'Misuari remains the leader of the MNLF' (Moro National Liberation Front) and that 'the MNLF is the sole and legitimate representative of the Bangsamoro', or people of the Muslim south.
The Islamic Development Bank is the funding agency of the OIC, which represents 57 Muslim countries and its money has been slated for anti-poverty and reconstruction projects, to be disbursed by the rebel  MNLF.
'The grant is a powerful sign of the OIC's interest in peace in Mindanao and in the Moro National Liberation Front under the chairmanship of Nur Misuari,'  Father Mercado said.
Misuari has been in detention for five years.  The Muslim autonomous region of which he used be governor  is now in the hands of a long-time critic of his movement.
In 2001, when Mrs Arroyo refused to endorse Misuari's re-election as governor,  MNLF commanders staged a rebellion that killed 113 people. Misuari  denies giving the order but has said it was understandable because the government had reneged on the peace deal.
OIC secretary general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu   invited  Misuari  to Jeddah for a three-day meeting with the OIC and the Philippine government last weekend to review the peace deal  Misuari  signed with the government in 1996.
But Misuari was barred from leaving the Philippines  because the government failed to obtain a 'sovereign guarantee' from Saudi Arabia that he  would be accompanied by armed guards and would not be granted  political asylum - a requirement imposed by the judge hearing his case.
Misuari aide  Ustadz Sharif Zain Jali said on the eve of the meeting:  'The government has been trying to sideline Misuari. They have been trying to divide us.'
The Philippine military routinely calls MNLF commanders in the stronghold province of Sulu the 'Misuari breakaway group' and claims that they have links with the Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf.
As the OIC  announced the  aid package at the close of the meeting on Monday,   Mr Ihsanoglu  said the OIC would sponsor another meeting on January 14 and hoped  Misuari would be present.
A government official said the  aid was unexpected.
But presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza  added: 'We will welcome all dividends for peace in Mindanao, especially when it involves the MNLF.'
He said he did not yet know the 'institutional arrangement' for disbursing the money and denied that directing funds through the former rebel movement was a rebuke to the government.
'We are not even sure what this thing is all about but we welcome any support for our communities in Mindanao,' he said.
But a Muslim lawmaker was not convinced  that the involvement of the MNLF was a welcome development.
Congressman Wahab Akbar,  who years ago broke away from Misuari, said: 'I don't think the money can be given to the MNLF. They are not in the government right now.
'They don't have an organisational set-up to disburse the money,' he said, noting that Misuari was an ineffective leader who failed to bring progress to Muslim Mindanao.



Islamic bank gives US$16m to Mindanao rebel group