MILF set to expel group that left it 8 months ago

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is poised to officially sever ties with renegade leader Ameril Umra Kato, an MILF spokesman said.

Von Al-Haq, spokesperson of the MILF armed wing Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), said that while an official declaration to expel Kato has not yet been  made, “it is forthcoming.”

“We have already exhausted all means to convince him (to return to the MILF’s fold). Even the Ulama Council has exerted so much effort, to no avail,” Al-Haq said.

He said Kato has refused to follow a key condition of the two-week ultimatum issued by the MILF on September 12 for him to patch things up with MILF chief Murad Ebrahim.

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, said the MILF central policy making body will soon decide to “officially drop (Kato) from our rolls.”

Jaafar said Kato communicated with the MILF central committee on September 19, saying he was no longer part of the front.

Kato, a Saudi-trained cleric, joined the MILF in 1993. He rose through the ranks to become commander of the BIAF’s 105th base command mostly covering the Liguasan Marsh towns in North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces, which are  major rebel strongholds.

He resigned in December 2009 out of discontent with the MILF leadership’s declaration of a suspension of offensive military actions in July 2009 although government forces still relentlessly pursue him.

By January he broke away from the MILF and issued a formal announcement to this effect in March  following his organization of the  Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

From April until middle of this month, the MILF sent five missions, mostly composed of Islamic clerics, to woo Kato back into its fold. He was given until last Monday, September  26, to return to the BIAF.

From simply a band of more than 100 men, Kato has organized, as of mid-August, a political front, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement, which counts the BIFF as its armed wing.

Al-Haq said the formal expulsion of Kato will mean he will no longer be covered by the terms of the ceasefire agreement between the MILF and government.

At this stage, the matter of Kato is formally with the Ulama Council whose eventual decision is expected to be upheld by the MILF central committee, Al-Haq added.

The earlier decision to give Kato an ultimatum was also a recommendation of the Ulama Council.

Abu Misra Mama, speaking for the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM), said there is no more possibility of their leader rejoining the MILF.

“There is no more possibility of us returning to the MILF’s fold. The MILF no longer abides by the principles of Islam in pushing for Moro rule in Mindanao,” Mama said in Filipino.

“With this decision, we will continue the Islamic struggle for independence,” he said.