Bangsamoro Republik

The Bangsamoro Republik, officially the United Federated States of Bangsamoro Republik (UFSBR), was a short-lived, self-proclaimed, unrecognized breakaway state in the Philippines. Nur Misuari, chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front, issued the Proclamation of Bangsamoro Independence on July 27, 2013 in Talipao, Sulu and declared the capital of Bangsamoro to be Davao City.

History

According to Misuari, the republic's territory encompasses the islands of Basilan, Mindanao, Palawan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi where he falsely claimed were the traditional "Bangsamoro" territories. Majority of the places he mentioned were territories belonging to non-Muslim indigenous peoples, and not "Moro" people. Misuari's legal counsel, Emmanuel Fontanilla, later stated that their "state" will also encompass the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, whose population are not majority-Muslims.

Misuari falsely claimed that his declaration of independence was made under the authority of the United Nations General Assembly 1514 resolution of 1960, which he alleges would grant independence to all colonized countries. The UN resolution never mentioned the territory he referred to as "Bangsamoro". Due to Misuari's unilateral declaration, the conflict escalated into the Zamboanga City crisis. The MNLF, the group which proclaimed Bangsamoro, was an observer in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation when the declaration was made.

As of September 28, 2013, with the defeat in Zamboanga City by the Philippine government, the MNLF no longer controls any territory openly anywhere and the Bangsamoro Republic has been officially debilitated, ending the war.

Etymology

The term ''Bangsamoro'' comes from combining the word ''bangsa'', meaning nation or people, and the Spanish word ''moro'', which was originally applied to the Moors that ruled Spain prior to the Reconquista, and was subsequently applied to predominantly Muslim Malay tribes.

Background

Earlier declarations

An independent state of Bangsamoro Republik was first declared on April 28, 1974,W.K. Che Man. "Muslim Separatism: The Moros of Southern Philippines and the Malays of Southern Thailand". Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 1974.Abinales, Patricio. N., et al. "State and Society in the Philippines". Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2005. two months after the siege of Jolo, Sulu after the MNLF first attempted to raise their flag.

Zamboanga City crisis

MNLF commander Asamin Hussin stated in September 2013 that his group would only release some 200 civilian hostages held in Barangay Kasanyangan once they are allowed to proceed to Zamboanga city hall and hoist their flag in front of it.
During the crisis, the MNLF did not manage to gain ''de facto'' control of three districts of Zamboanga City.

Present

, Nur Misuari was the UFSBR's Interim President according to the MNLF. A government in exile for the Bangsamoro has also been considered by Misuari.

See also

* Flag of the Bangsamoro Republik
* Moro National Liberation Front
* Moro Islamic Liberation Front
* Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro
* Peace process with the Bangsamoro in the Philippines
* Bangsamoro Organic Law

References

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Separatism in the Philippines
Independence movements
States and territories established in 2013
States and territories disestablished in 2013
Former unrecognized countries
2013 establishments in the Philippines
2013 disestablishments in the Philippines
Moro National Liberation Front