Saturday, July 01, 2006
Int'l ceasefire observers may extend Mindanao stint
COTABATO CITY -- Both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) see no problem in the continued stay of Malaysian-led ceasefire observers in Mindanao.
Although the International Monitoring Team (IMT) will end its stint in August, members of the ceasefire committees from both sides are reportedly open to extending the tenure of the international ceasefire observers.
Professor Rudy Rodil, vice chairman of the government peace panel, said the continued stay of the IMT would still be discussed and agreed by both sides.
"Judging from the way the IMT is doing its job, there's no doubt it is very effective. Both sides (government and MILF) have initially discussed prolonging their stay but have yet to make it formal. The IMT needs our mandate (issued through a proper document)," he said.
Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs, said they also wanted the IMT to continue monitoring the ceasefire agreement.
The Philippine government and the MILF entered into a formal ceasefire agreement pending the resolution of the decades-long armed conflict in Mindanao.
"We're confident the IMT's mandate will be extended. It is effectively doing its job," Jaafar said.
Malaysian Major General Datu Pahlawan Soheimi Bin Abbas, head of IMT, said they are willing to stay if formally requested by the government and the MILF.
"In the absence of a request, we have no recourse but to leave your country. At this point, when we are nearing the end of our mission, both sides have still not hinted they want us to extend our stay. We are very much willing to remain here so long as there is an official mandate," he told reporters.
IMT operates in the provinces of Zamboanga, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and South and North Cotabato, he noted.
Aside from Malaysia, the IMT is composed of representatives from Brunei, Bangladesh, and Libya, member countries of the influential Organization of Islamic Conference.
The monitoring team has been in Mindanao for about two years now.
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(June 26, 2006 issue)
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