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Friday, April 25, 2008
Gov't wants peace pact with MILF signed soon
MANILA -- Malacanang believes that the sooner the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is signed the better it would be for the people in Mindanao.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye issued the statement following reports that Malaysia will be pulling out its troops from the International Monitoring Team (IMT) next month.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
In Kuala Lumpur, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said Malaysia will start a "phased withdrawal" of its personnel from the violence-scarred Philippine island of Mindanao next month.
Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza said there has been no official communication from Malaysia about such plans but "of course, we will respect their decision."
Bunye said the Arroyo government is committed to the peace process and "that peace in Mindanao is something that we are all working for."
He said ensuring peace and stability in Mindanao would help spur development in the region.
He added that signing a final agreement would usher in more programs and project in Mindanao with some of it coming from friendly countries that had already pledged to help realize the developmental aspect of a future agreement.
"We need to show that we cannot and we should not be there as part of the international monitoring team indefinitely," Najib told reporters. "There has to be some degree of finality in terms of our presence there."
Najib urged Manila and the MILF to step up efforts to reach a permanent peace deal, adding that Malaysia's military chief will visit the Philippines by the end of this month to formally convey Malaysia's decision.
MILF deputy chairman Khaled Musa said they would not appeal the Malaysian decision noting that the continued presence of the IMT is only being taken advantage of the Philippine government to secure foreign aids and investments from abroad and "to continue its counter-insurgency approach to the Moro Problem".
"We will not plead with the Malaysian government to put their IMT in Mindanao," he said adding that the Philippine government had been deliberately "foot-dragging" the talks.
Malaysia contributes the majority of about 60 troops, police and other officers safeguarding a 2003 cease-fire between the Philippine military and the MILF.
An initial batch of 21 Malaysian troops will leave the southern Philippines on May 10, leaving about 30 personnel to remain for some time, Najib said.
He did not say when the pullout would be completed, but Foreign Minister Rais Yatim recently said Malaysia does not plan to send any more personnel after the mandate of the current team expires in September.
The monitoring team, which has been led by Malaysia since 2004, also has 10 military officers from Brunei and several diplomatic and economic personnel from Libya and Japan.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said the government was still waiting for information from Malaysia.
Mohagher Iqbal, the MILF's chief negotiator, accused the Philippine government of "just playing around with the peace process" and paving the way for the Malaysian withdrawal.
"We will not plead with the Malaysians to reconsider their decision," he said. "They were hurt. They feel they are being betrayed by the noncooperation of the government."
The Front, which the Philippine military says has 11,000 fighters, is the largest Muslim group battling for self-rule in the southern Philippines. (JMR/Sunnex/AP)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (April 25, 2008 issue)
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