Moro Islamic Liberation Front
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF; Arabic: جبهة تحرير مورو الإسلامية Jabhat Taḥrīr Moro al-ʾIslāmiyyah) is an Islamist group based in Mindanao, Philippines, seeking an autonomous region of the Moro people from the central government.[2] The group has a presence in the Bangsamoro region of Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago, Palawan, Basilan, and other neighbouring islands.[3] The armed wing of the group was the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF),[4] although the name of its parent organization, the MILF, was often used to refer to the BIAF. In July, 2018, the Philippine government passed the Bangsamoro Organic Law, giving more autonomy to Muslims.[5] In return, MILF announced that it would disarm its 30,000 fighters.[6]
For other uses, see MILF (disambiguation).Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF)
Al-Hadj Murad Ibrahim, Sheikh Hashim Salamat (former)
1977
1977 – March 27, 2014 (Permanent ceasefire)[1]
Philippines
Independence of the Bangsamoro region (formerly)
Establishment of a region with greater autonomy than the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region)
Luwanran
Inactive (as an armed group)
Struggles[edit]
Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain[edit]
On August 4, 2008, the Supreme Court of the Philippines issued a temporary restraining order, preventing the government and the MILF from officially signing the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), which would conclude all dispute and begin formal talks that would lead to the drafting and eventual signing of a Final Comprehensive Compact between the two groups.[21] The court accepted motions by the southern provincial governments that objected to the extended boundaries for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao envisioned in the peace deal. The MOA-AD would have allowed the Moro people to gain control of the region under the concept of human rights with the right to establish a police force and to control natural resources.[22]
The MOA-AD was initialed by former governor and peace panel chair Rodolfo Garcia and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon and MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal on July 27, 2008, in Malaysia. It was scheduled for formal signing on August 5, but the Supreme Court issued no negotiation preventing the executive department from signing the agreement.[23] The MOA-AD was the last of several agenda items under the 2001 agreement of the GRP-MILF, after security and relief and rehabilitation, prior to the discussion on the political settlement.[23]
The Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN) appealed to the public not to be afraid of the MOA-AD and to "open your hearts to the Moro grievance".[24] The YMPN said in a statement dated August 21, 2009: