By Mahmut Atanur
COTABATO CITY, Philippines; 29 July 2018; AA: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) held a meeting Sunday to evaluate the recent approval of a law on comprehensive autonomy for Moro Muslims.
More than a hundred thousand Moro Muslims gathered in Darapanan Camp in Cotabato City to discuss the Bangsamoro Organic Law approved by President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday.
Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim, MILF chairman, Ghadzali Jaafar, vice chairman for political affairs and Mohagher Iqbal, head of information committee were among those who addressed the meeting.
They highlighted the gains made through the law and expressed pleasure over the end of conflicts in the region.
Ebrahim said in a statement after the meeting that development, investment and economic improvements were important for their region, and they would continue to be in touch with the central government on many such issues.
He said efforts to hold a referendum on the law were important.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also welcomed the move, saying it hopes the law would "provide greater fiscal autonomy, a regional government, parliament, and a justice system" in the region.
"The OIC hopes that this landmark achievement by the people and Government of the Philippines will bring peace and prosperity and enhance unity among the Moro ranks," read the statement published following the approval of the law.
It also called on the people and the government to work together in meeting the expectations of the Bangsamoro people.
The law provides for increasing the legal and economic earnings of the Muslims in the region, giving more comprehensive autonomy to those living on the islands around Mindanao, which has a large Muslim population.
More than 120,000 people lost their lives and two-million people were made refugees in over 40 years of conflict between the government and the Moro.
Today, the population of Moro people is over 10 million. Regions that have the highest Moro population are respectively listed as Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi Tawi and Basilan.
