Misuari seeks Saudi government’s help for his immediate release

Jailed Muslim rebel leader Nur Misuari has sought the Saudi Arabian government’s intervention for his immediate release from detention, a source at the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

The source said Misuari wrote a 12-page letter addressed to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and coursed it through Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Manila.

The source disclosed Misuari apparently wanted to solicit the support of some members of the 56-member Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), which were sympathetic to him. This was because the Philippines failed to fully brief the OIC members of Misuari’s misdemeanor.

Misuari is facing rebellion charges and is currently held in a special detention center in Sta. Rosa, Laguna originally built for deposed President Joseph Estrada. But the source said instead of forwarding Misuari’s letter to the home office, Saudi Ambassador to Manila Saleh Mohammad Al-Ghamdi referred it to Presidential Adviser on peace Process Eduardo Ermita, who then turned it over to Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople.

Sources said there is no reply yet from the Philippine government on the matter.

The Malaysian Embassy in Manila has confirmed the existence of the letter, but declined to give further details.

Misuari also requested the Saudi government to intercede on his behalf to convince the Philippine government to allow him to participate in the discussions on the Sabah claim. The Philippines and Malaysia have joint claims over Sabah.

In his letter, Misuari is claiming that he is an heir of the Sultan of Sabah, which gives him the right to intervene on the issue. — Aurea Calica