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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Peace groups want International Monitoring Team to stay
By Grace L. Plata
DAVAO CITY -- Peace advocates in Mindanao are lobbying for the continued stay of the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT).
But while peace groups are taking the initiative to extend the stay of the IMT in Mindanao, government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) officials are in a word war over who is to blame for the stalled peace talks.
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Representatives from Mindanao Peaceweavers and Bantay Ceasefire met with the Malaysian IMT members Tuesday at their quarters in Belisario Heights to discuss measures that would make the Malaysian government reconsider its decision.
Malaysia announced earlier that it will withdraw the IMT in batches starting on May 10. The first batch to leave will be at least 21 of the 30-member contingent.
"Please tell us what we could do to get your government to reconsider," said Gus Miclat, executive director of Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID).
Miclat has outlined the possible effects of the IMT's pullout, saying it could result in countries following suit and creating space for "negative" groups to come in.
He added that with Malaysia around, all entrances for these groups have been blocked.
The Malaysians, though sympathizing with the predicament, said it is not up to them to say or know what is fitting to do to persuade their government to reconsider.
"If it were up to us, we would really be happy to leave with the peace agreement already signed. It might not assure that all will be well after, but it is a way forward," said Lieutenant Colonel Mohd Sabri Shamsudin, head of the Malaysian contingent.
The Malaysians meantime expressed discomfort with reports that the Philippine government has started calling for their replacement even if they have not left the country yet.
"We are still here but they are already inviting other countries to come," Shamsudin said, implying this could hinder a reconsideration.
In their petition sent to the Malaysian government, the peace advocates said they are "seriously concerned with the possible withdrawal of international monitors led by Malaysia in the Southern Philippines," adding that "this has grave repercussions and dangerous implications to the peace process and to the lives of thousands of residents in communities who are still reeling from rehabilitation efforts."
They also acknowledged the Malaysians' vital peacekeeping contribution in the southern Philippines through facilitation of the peace talks and for being the IMT's largest contingent.
The group attributed the peace to IMT's move in acknowledging and involving local communities in peacekeeping. This has empowered local stakeholders to sustain a peace environment, it added.
The harmonious working relations among the IMT, military, and local Bantay Ceasefire groups have tremendous impact in stabilizing security in the southern region, they said.
In a separate letter, the group also called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to keep the Malaysian contingent.
"We appeal to the government to exercise political will in resolving the substantive items in the peace talks on territorial delineation of the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) and legal processes to recognize such. We urge the (Philippine government) to reinforce its commitment to think out of the box and iron out instead of skirting the thorny issues in the processes to recognize the BJE, whose resolution would affect more than three million lives in the Southern Philippines. We also call on the (Philippine government) to encourage the Malaysian monitors to stay," the group said.
It then reminded President Arroyo about her statement made in March 2007, during which she said: "The best course of action to ensure that the hostilities do not escalate and are not exploited by lawless elements is for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to work closely with the established mechanisms of the peace process - the joint ceasefire committees, the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, and the International Monitoring Team - to keep combatants in place, and increase vigilance against those intent at breaking the peace, at agitating the people, at pitting the government against the MILF and communities against each other." (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (April 30, 2008 issue)
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