The Moro National Liberation Front, MNLF, is a Muslim Group that operates in Mindanao. The MNLF was involved in war with the Philippine Government from the 1970’s until 1996. The whole idea of the MNLF, however, got started in 1968 when 299 Muslim Filipino military trainees were killed by the Philippine Government of Ferdinand Marcos. When these trainees were killed, other Muslims who were in the military decided that seccession from the government was the only answer. They wanted to form a Moro homeland. Moro is the name that means Muslim people here in the Philippines.
At that time, Nur Misuari was a Professor at the University of the Philippines, and he rose to become the leader of this group, which became known by the name “Moro National Liberation Front” or MNLF. The group ensued to start an insurgency in the Southern Philippines (island of Mindanao), an action which accounted for up to 200,000 lost lives over the decades. At it’s strongest, the MNLF had a force of around 40,000 soldiers fighting for their homeland on Mindanao.
In 1976, the Philippine Government decided that it would be better to put an end to the fighting, and with the help of the Libyan Government, a peace treaty was negotiated with the MNLF. However, the Philippine Government never lived up to the deal, and thus the MNLF resumed fighting under Chairman Misuari.
After another 20 years of struggle, the MNLF entered a second peace agreement with the Philippine Government, under President Fidel Ramos. Under the agreement, which has been in place since 1996, the MNLF has a region which it governs, called the “Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao” or ARMM. Unfortunately, until now the ARMM is mired in deep poverty, the poorest part of the Philippines, and the people have still not realized the dreams that they dreamed of.
In the past 5 or 6 years, Nur Misuari has been put in jail for sedition (since released, and now free and living in Mindanao again), and has been ousted from his Chairmanship of the MNLF. The MNLF no longer exists as a fighting force, now it is more of a political force, and controls many aspects of the ARMM Government.
In terms of how the MNLF affects foreigners, in regards to travel in Mindanao or other parts of the Philippines, that is really not a problem. The MNLF is mostly a peaceful organiztion now, aside from an occaisional break away faction that will cause a problem from time to time, but even this is quite rare these days. As a matter of fact, when there is any kind of lawless action in Mindanao, the MNLF is often called upon to assist in settling the matter, and is usually helpful in such matters.
Most MNLF fighters have long since put their weapons aside and sought out legitimate work to feed their families and such. Many former MNLF fighters are farmers, fishermen and such these days.
In my opinion, you really don’t need to worry about the MNLF if you plan to travel around Mindanao.
For more information about the MNLF, visit the MNLF Official Website.
Bob, thanks for the article. A good summary of the MNLF. Cheers!
Hi David B Katague – Glad that you enjoyed it!
Hi Bob
I enjoyed reading your article on the MNLF. Would you say that the ARMM region is safer, more dangerous, or just as safe as most areas of the Philippines? Im talking about for an American or European who wanted to visit the region.
Hi Dan Mihaliak – Without a doubt, I would say it is more dangerous. Not trying to steer people away, but I would not recommend travel in the ARMM unless you have some experience traveling in the Philippines, and also some good contacts in the ARMM. If you went there it's a good chance you would have no problems, but to play it safe, I recommend that you take precautions.
Maayon buntag Bob
The issue I see with a group like this is that they can easily become a safe haven for terrorists and other criminals hiding as Muslims. Am I wrong in my assumptions or can this become a problem?
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Hi Larry – Well…. I tend to think that terrorists could hide out as Christians too, in spots that would not be expected. Personally, I don't have any problem with Muslim people, so this is getting into some territory that I don't necessarily agree with.
Bob
I will be the first to admit I know very little about Muslims. It is understandable that Muslims have justifiable issues with RP government but I do not understand the killing of innocent people. I will admit that I tend to put all Muslims into one group and this is not fair to the many people that are good. The one thing I would like to see is a condemnation of criminal acts and bringing the perpetrators to justice by the good Muslim communities.
Hi Larry – I understand, and I hear this same sentiment from many people. However, what a lot of people don't understand is that there has also been a lot of Christian against Muslim violence too, but you don't hear Christians condemning that either. For example, in Kosovo, that was Christians killing Mulsims. There has been a lot of violence against Muslims in the Philippines too. There is violence on both sides, and too much of it.
I just find it hard to understand how anyone can intentionally kill women and children. Any Christians that are intentionally killing the innocent must be condemned and brought to justice also. It is just hard to understand fighting that has been going on for over 1000 years. 😕
Bob,
Thanks for the article today. I've really wanted to learn more about this topic but haven't had the time to do the research yet, and this sparked a few quick searches tonight. I have one question, I think you have mentioned in the past that you really like Jolo. Have you ever been to Mount Bagsak, that really seems like it would make a great tourism spot for historical purposes.
Hi Larry – I totally agree!
Hi Steve – No, you must have mis-read something I wrote. Jolo is the Capitol City of Sulu Province. Sulu is one of the very few Mindanao Provinces that I have yet to visit.
I am planning to visit Sulu, but Sulu is very dangerous, and I am watching for the right circumstances to allow such a trip. I hope it happens soon.
I actually met Misuari. shook the guy's hand. The peace accord had just been signed & everyone was excited about the future of ARMM. I was looking forward to hearing him speak, this UP intellect who chose to hide in the mountains to fight for a cause for 3 decades.
I was very much underwhelmed by his speech, which was hard to do since I just wanted to hear about his plans for this new era of ARMM.
I just knew from his unrealistic talk about 12 lane freeways (I distinctly remembered this) & modern skyscrapers in Mindanao that many will be disappointed & he was just merely another pol trying to impress a crowd. He trying to build himself up even though he didn't need to & I was embarrassed for him.
It's too bad, I really thought he was a game changer, maybe a transcendental historical figure. a few years later he was in jail & his leadership in the ARMM was mired in accusations of corruption & cronyism. He's free now, but his chance to change things has passed.
Hi macky – I totally agree. Misuari had grand plans. I think he expected the rich oil countries in the Middle East to come in with money and line the streets with gold. It didn't happen, though.
Bob:
As to the rich countries in the Middle East lining the streets with Gold, that was highly unrealistic of him to even begin to think that. Having lived in the region and traveling extensively there, the only expenditures I see is funding for newer, bigger, grander mosques. Think about it for a second… Have the Palestinians benefitted from any grandiose displays of largesse from the Muslim Brotherhood? What about the Pakistanis, Indonesians, Yemenis? All of those places have received gigantic houses of prayer, but very little else.
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It is far mor important to build another useless cement and steel monstrosity in Dubai than to help their fellow Muslims in any real way.
Hi John Miele – Harsh, but so true.
Please understand, I am not being critical of you for what you said. No doubt that what you said cuts to the bone, but it is true in my observation.
Bob:
I understand… Sometimes I get a little carried away with things. Unfortunately, though, the truth is harsh. I used to see this in the region all the time… Companies would spend thousands running newspaper ads during holidays praising the rulers' generosity while complaining about small minimum wage increases for their workers / staff/ servants, including many, many muslims. What perplexes me is that everything I have ever read about in the Koran, (it technically can't be translated from Arabic, so what you read in any other language is an interpretation) preaches peace, giving, piety, and humility… Much like the Bible to Christians. The gulf between practice and reality is what is really disconcerting to me. I blame Christians as well. Where is the "Christian charity" in places like the ARMM, where people truly need it. If more Christians were charitable and tolerant in the past, would the situation be the same today? Quite frankly, the whole subject disgusts me.
Hi John Miele – I feel much the same as you do. Sometimes the harsh things are the things that need to be said the most!
Hi Bob
Yes this Muslim / Christian situation is very entrenched on both sides and attrocities carried out in the name of revenge, i know there is a lot of goodwill between both communities with both sides working very hard and succesfully at times to bring communities together…..then…..flaahpoint and all the hard work done over the years can be thrown away, it is very sad
In my opinion, while the western world supports Israel to the total subjugation of the 6 million or so Palestinians, who live in camps for the past 60 years, then it gives support to the Muslim point of view of Christains as their old enemy.
What has this to do with Mindanao? well what happens is that Muslims in Mindanao can appeal to their richer overseas "brothers" for arms and support in their "war" against the Christians here in Mindanao……
We do shoot ourselves in the foot regularly……….so do the Muslims but i have been relieved that we haven't had any gung ho, go in there and wipe them out type replies, which i have seen many in other forums, yours is far too sensible for that Bob, although i may have put one or two things in here which upset some people
By the way i was interested in Macky's comment about Misuari, talk about missing a chance in history…………….
Hi Bob
I think one thing no one has said even though there is a lot of corruption in the Philippines, the one thing no one has mention is that there is no first world country run by Muslims. The Persian Gulf countries are rich because of oil not because of hard work, just look at how low their wages are to foreign workers and how little they give to other countries. When you look at the Palestinians and how much fellow Arabs profess their support for them, that does not include very much money especially from very rich Persian Gulf countries. The only moderately wealthy Muslim majority country is Malaysia but without their Chinese population (25%) would they be as successful, I doubt it. The Chinese people are discriminted against as well. Yes the Muslims are sometimes not given the respect that they are due but the majority of the people in the Philippines are very religious Christian country and it will always be the dominant culture. Look at Muslim majority countries like Egypt or Sudan and see how the Christians are treated as second class citizens at best or even worse killled like in Southern Sudan, or look at East Timor in Indonesia.
To expect the ARMM to run any different then other parts of the Philippines without rampant corruption is totally unrealistic. To believe that they would get large investments from the Persian Gulf shows the lack of understanding on the part of what the Gulf Arabs are. Add in the occasional rash of violence that will deter any significant investments in there. The MILF is their own worse enemy. Kind of like a thief who wont get hired because he always stealing from his boss but complains that he cant get a job. The more violence the poorer the region it will become.
Hi Neil – I honestly did not intend this to become a thread of this type of discussion. There are good Muslim people, as well as bad. Same with Christians.
We just want to be left alone what is so hard to understand about that.We can not be dictated by anyone,it is in hour hearts (TAUSUGS) to go against the tides.I for one CONDEMN the senseless killings but the people outside our homeland only sees one side of the coin.they do not see the ATROCITIES committed by the military.we are forced to take up arms,BLOOD for BLOOD and in case we die our children will be there to STOP the innocent killings of our PEOPLE. ALLAHUAKBAR
Hello jearhanuding – So, you are speaking for the MNLF? That is the article. I thought that the MNLF already made peace? But, because some innocent Tausugs have suffered, you will inflict suffering on other innocents? That sure does not seem like a peaceful way. I thought that Islam was supposed to be a religion of peace. I suppose your brand is Islam is different, no?
hi jearhanuding
does the military go to your place and starts shooting civilians for no reasons? or does the civilians just caught up in the middle of gunfight?
which atrocities are you referring to?
there are many projects like road widening, bridge construction etc.etc. that has been halted because there are many armed group snatches the innocent people who are working there to improve the economy of that province but those armed group are the same people who's obstructing that improvement? why not blame them?
the problem i am seeing is, most muslim in the philippines wants their "HOMELAND", is philippines not your homeland? are you not a filipino? do you really think that the entire mindanao were made just for the tausugs?
and why the "Blood for Blood" attitude?, that is radical don't you think?
why can't you accept the fact that mindanao is part of the philippines and it can't be separated? what is so hard to understand about that?
remember this, you live by the sword, you will die by the sword. and no peace can be achieve if you will always put in your mind the "blood for blood" attitude if something goes wrong.
why not teach your children to take up books and not gun? why not teach your children to love peace and not war? why not teach your children to live in harmony and not to live seperately?
why the people of the north can live in harmony with the others? regardless of their belief and religion? why the people of the north would not say they want their "Homeland"?
there are so many why's? are you ready to accept the reality that there is something wrong with you and your people?