Ridos threaten gov’t, MILF ceasefire deal

THE head of the government Coordinating Committee for the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) said “ridos” of wars among Muslim clans threaten the ceasefire agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Brig. Gen. Gilberto Jose Roa, chairman of the government’s CCCH, said it is for this reason that both CCCH groups have taken an active role in addressing clan wars so as not to put the ceasefire agreement with the Muslim secessionist group in jeopardy.

Roa, together with his MILF counterpart Said Sheik, Al-Haj shared the same sentiment that the CCCH and IMT have become established pillars of the peace process as evidenced by the reduction of armed conflicts in Mindanao.

Data showed that there have been no recorded armed skirmishes between government soldiers and MILF troops since January this year.

The number of armed clashes in Mindanao between feuding families are not in any way ceasefire agreement-related, according to Malaysian Major Gen. Dato Abdul Rahim Bin Bohd Yusuff, head of mission of the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

During the meeting, government and MILF contingents of the CCCH addressed a six-point agenda on issues and concerns from both ends to iron out problems and further strengthen collaborative efforts to keep ceasefire mechanisms effectively in place especially in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

Both groups also commit to put up Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Posts (JCMPs) in Datu Saudi, Maguindanao; Pikit, Cotabato; Munai, Lanao del Norte; Butig, Lanao del Sur; Maasim, Sarangani; Basilan; and Sibugay; and the reorganization of Local Monitoring Teams (IMTs) in the provinces of Maguindanao, Basilan and Sibugay.

The Joint CCCH is composed of members from GPH and MILF as well as neutral party – the IMT. Established in 2003, the CCCH has been tasked to monitor the implementation of the GPH-MILF Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities and resolve complaints on ceasefire violations to contain and prevents conflicts from escalating.

The Malaysian-led IMT M-7 is composed of contingents from the governments of Malaysia, Brunei, Japan, Norway, and European Union, who since 2004 has been tasked to monitor the implementation of the security, civilian protection, humanitarian, rehabilitation, socio economic development aspects of the GPH-MILF peace process.