COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Ameril Umra Kato’s breakaway faction on Friday openly defied the deadline set by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for it to return to the main rebel group.
Abu Misri Mama, who speaks for Kato’s Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement and its armed wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, said in a telephone interview that Kato was firm in his decision last January to break away from the MILF.
“We are happy with our group now. We will maintain and stay with BIFM. This is the organization designed by our late chairman, Salamat Hashim,” Mama said, quoting Kato.
He said Kato had relayed the same position to the MILF though an emissary that came to meet the cleric on Thursday.
Earlier, Von Al Haq, MILF spokesperson, said the MILF central committee had given Kato until September 26 to disband the BIFM and the BIFF and return to the MILF.
He said the deadline was based on a recommendation from the Ulama Council, whose members had met with Kato days earlier.
“If Kato still won’t give in, he would be declared outside the coverage of the peace process and the ceasefire,” Al Haq said.
He said the MILF would decide on what other action to take against Kato after the deadline.
Kato was formerly head of the MILF’s 105th Base Command in Maguindanao.
His falling out with the MILF leadership started when the rebel group, according to him, did not come to his aid when the military was hunting him down in connection with he led in North Cotabato in 2008.
Kato also resented the way the MILF was handling the peace talks with the government, saying it has softened on the stand for Moro independence.
In January, he formally announced the formation of the BIFF as his armed group, and later the BIFM as the mother organization.
Mama said Kato was still willing to talk with Murad Ebrahim, the MILF chair, but only to clarify his stand on the BIFM and the BIFF. But he said Kato had made it clear that he would not go to Camp Darapanan, the MILF’s main base.
“Ustadz Kato cannot go anymore to them since the military is hunting him. We cannot take the risk of going to Darapanan. But he is willing to sit and talk with Murad,” Mama said.
On the MILF’s announcement that it will decide what to do next after the deadline expires, Mama said, “Let’s see what will happen on September 26.”
He said Kato did not feel threatened by the MILF deadline.
Meanwhile, the chair of the government’s coordinating committee on the cessation of hostilities urged the MILF and the BIFF to resolve the problem in Datu Piang, Maguindanao that has rekindled violence between their fighters.
On Wednesday, MILF and BIFF forces clashed anew, resulting in the death of four people and the wounding of several others, including a 15-year-old girl trying to escape the violence with her parents.
“I appeal to the MILF and the BIFM to bring an end to their dispute. Please do not discount the innocent lives affected by your armed clashes,” Brigadier General Ariel Bernardo said.
Involved in the renewed fighting in Datu Piang were members of the MILF’s 106th Base Command under Commander Meds Sambolawan and BIFF forces under Hasan Indal.
Bernardo said the fighting erupted when BIFF forces ambushed the group of Sambolawan, who were returning home from a meeting with MILF commander Adzmie Kasim in Barangay (village) Aliunganin, also in Datu Piang.