Wednesday, April 09, 2008 MILF to help government clear mines
THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will help the government in clearing fields of landmines.
In a report by www.luwaran.com, it was learned that the MILF and the Philippine government are about to sign an agreement on the Joint Mines/Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Clearance Initiative.
The MILF-GRP Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) reportedly met last week with the Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines (PCBL) and the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (Foundation Suisse de Deminage-FSD) and project proponents of the MILF-GRP Joint Mine/Unexploded Ordnance Clearance Initiative.
The joint effort is to be undertaken for two years and involves technical trainings, information and education campaign, community liaison, surveys, data banking, and actual mine/UXO clearance action.
The PCBL-FSD initiatives to convince the government and MILF to jointly undertake mines/UXO clearance started since 2001 based on the 1997 Ottawa Treaty and the Deed of Commitment of Non-States Actors on Mines Clearance Campaign.
This project is projected as a measure both of security, rehabilitation, and confidence building in support of the RP-MILF peace process from the local to international levels.
It was, however, learned that budget for the undertaking is still not available, so is the final date for its commencement. (BOT)
