Moro National Liberation Front - Terrorism and Human Rights Issues

Terrorism and Human Rights Issues

There is a United Nations Security Council Report in 23 April 2010 that says that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), New People's Army (NPA), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are among the groups around the world that have subjected minors to the most brutal violence, such as killings, maimings, rapes and other sexual assaults. In the said report, the MNLF is not mentioned as a human rights violator.

In a separate corroborating report, the State Department of the United States of America also had a 2009 Human Rights Report and it did not mention the MNLF as a violator.

On October 28, 2011, the Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo admitted that some members of the Abu Sayyaf are related to members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and even government officials.

• This zero human rights violation by the MNLF is attributed primarily to its rules of engagement in combat. Each MNLF Freedom Fighter who is involved in combat situation, from top ranks down to the individual levels, are indoctrinated that MNLF does not target unarmed civilians, and does not tolerate human rights violations and cowardice in combat such as ambush, assassinations, torture, maimings, summary executions, taking of prisoners, kidnapping, hostaging, maltreatment of wounded enemies left behind, and terrorism of civilians. The MNLF also does not use bombs, arson, and does not trespass into houses, churches, mosques, and cars as these are considered as sanctuary of people caught in armed conflict. This rules of engagement makes the MNLF different from the NPA, ASG, Private Armies, and other criminals, mercenaries and bandits.

• Another factor that contributes to the zero human rights violation of the MNLF is the economic characteristics of the MNLF freedom fighters. MNLFs are self-reliant members of the community who works for a decent living as farmers, traders, teachers, craftsmen, drivers, etc. MNLFs does not collect revolutionary taxes from the people and they are not paid any salaries and benefits as freedom fighters, therefore they are patriots in the purest sense.

• The other considerable factor is the hazing-free initiation of new members into the organization. Joining and leaving the MNLF is very easy. The MNLF does not use and does not tolerate hazing, torture, maltreatment, and any type of abuse in the training and indoctrination process of new members.