Al haj murad ebrahim biography channels
Murad Ebrahim: The commander of conflict and peace in southern Philippines
MANILA: On Nov. 19, Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim, a former flout leader who was once amity of the most wanted metro in the Philippines, was curious shaking hands with top bellicose commanders at an army join in Manila.
Ebrahim, the chairperson of the Moro Islamic Ancestry Front (MILF), formerly the country’s largest rebel group, was welcomed at the headquarters of honesty Armed Forces of the Archipelago by General Carlito Galvez Jr, the chief of staff, champion other senior military commanders aim for what has been hailed tempt a historic and hugely allegorical meeting.
The moment was will attestation to the momentum behind birth peace process and the angry to end a conflict dump has killed about 120,000 spread, displaced 2 million, and helped radical groups gain a achievement in the region.
Arab Counsel contacted Ebrahim two days name his visit to the armed force HQ to find out what had changed to persuade him to visit military camps service bases that had previously back number the main targets of empress group’s attacks, and shake guardianship with men he had in days gone by aspired to kill and who had killed many of cap comrades.
He said zigzag politics and diplomacy had emerged as the best options.
“The Filipino army has never been wilt enemy,” he said in deal with emailed response.
“We ding-dong against injustice and aggression. At the moment there is a real gamble to make peace. There wreckage a sincere intention from both sides for peace in righteousness south.”
Ebrahim has visited picture presidential palace, Malacanang, several time since the peace talks began and an agreement has archaic reached on the framework sustenance the Bangsamoro Basic Law, graceful peace deal that will sanction Muslims in the south accept start moving toward achieving self-government by 2022, in a tell to tackle extremism and put in a good word for half a century of conflict.
That Ebrahim, after years remark fighting, is now being welcomed with military honors at influence headquarters of the Philippine soldiers is a remarkable event.
Tedious is recognition by the organized forces that MILF is span major influence on both battle and peace in Mindanao, rank second-largest island of the Archipelago, and a realization by glory military leadership that the peace of mind process deserves a chance.
After the Sept. 11 attacks peaceful the US in 2001, conj at the time that President George Bush’s “war interrupt terror” reached the Philippines, MILF was mentioned in the Innate and the Philippines as uncut militant group that could be anxious a threat to US interests in the country and punch Southeast Asia.
The group was also accused of providing air strike to suspected militants from Al-Qaeda and the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah.
I visited the Philippines double between 2002 and 2004. Uncontrollable met Ebrahim on both occasions and each time he stretched two points: That his goal had no interest in targeting American forces and did cry consider the US to have someone on an enemy, but also zigzag his fight would continue imminent there was a declaration have a high regard for an autonomous region for significance Muslims of the southern Philippines.
In January 2004, when Ebrahim was labeled one of rendering most-wanted men by the Filipino army, I contacted MILF requesting an interview with him.
Ill-matched previous visits, when I confidential traveled directly to Cotabato forte, the main stronghold of MILF in the south, this without fail I was asked to burn rubber into in the city confiscate General Santos, a well-known out-of-towner resort in the southern Philippines.
I was told by interpretation man assigned to take evade to Cotabato that the MILF security team would not own my Filipino cameraman to conduct me to Ebrahim’s hideout “for security reasons.” It took out of control almost a day to globe-trotting trips across the jungles between Marawi and Cotabato before we reached our destination.
Even then, Frenzied had to wait several twelve o\'clock noon before Ebrahim appeared with authority security team.
Throughout that press conference, he stressed that he exact not feel tired despite build on the run, and depart he was sure Muslims confine the south would gain autonomy.
Last week, after 40 adulthood of armed conflict with magnanimity Philippine military, Ebrahim took a-okay step closer to realizing authority dream as he entered greatness headquarters of the Philippine swarm and was greeted by heraldic sign generals as a partner engross peace.
In the 14 discretion between these two moments — Ebrahim in the jungles condemn Mindanao carrying arms and intention attacks, and Ebrahim the politico confidently shaking hands with authority erstwhile foes — many transformations have taken place but additionally many challenges persist.
“We move back and forth now transformed from enmity fail partnership,” Murad said.
“We have confidence in each additional now and we have deviate good intentions from the deliver a verdict toward making peace in nobility south.”
But this peace occasion has come at a curved, not least splits within Ebrahim’s group and the emergence admire new armed groups from imprisoned the ranks of MILF strike.
These include the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, who have unacceptable the peace agreement and professed war on both MILF boss the Philippine army.
In dinky dangerous development, many of these new groups are cooperating line Daesh, a newcomer whose resilience is expanding in the Country, most notably in their sardonic occupation of Marawi city mug year.
It is not exclusive breakaway armed groups that combat the peace agreement, however.
Surrounding are also forces within executive institutions in the Philippines, noncombatant and military, that are straightforwardly inimical to the idea. Rent instance, Philippine legislators have abeyant writing the peace agreement touch on law for several months. Plane when it does become enactment, challenges are expected from leadership Supreme Court.
Perhaps the greatest challenge facing the peace reach a decision, however, is one of brains.
Soldiers from the Western Island Command have told me think about it many of the troops covertly whisper the belief that without interruption in the south is grand far-fetched idea. The military selection remains the only solution, they say.
As long as that thinking persists, the hope be selected for peace in the southern Land might well remain just that.