Government asks IMT members to extend stay in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - The government is asking members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to extend their tour of duty in Mindanao for three months.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles said the Department of Foreign Affairs had sent communications to the countries comprising the IMT.

“We believe that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will support the request for the three-month extension of the IMT’s term,” she said.

“Reciprocity and a stable environment on the ground make the environment conducive to resuming the talks, which we expect to start very soon.”

The IMT monitors the ceasefire, socio-economic and humanitarian agreements between the government and the MILF.

Its current one-year mandate is covered by the terms of reference signed by the two parties in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 9, 2009.

The IMT is headed by the 20-strong delegation of Malaysia.

Brunei and Libya with 15 and three members, and the Malaysian delegation currently comprise the IMT’s security component.

Japan, with two representatives, monitors the socio-economic development agreement.

Since September 2004, the IMT has worked closely with the joint Government-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities to prevent and address the impact of hostilities in affected provinces in Mindanao.

In May 2010, the Civilian Protection Component was added as another arm of the IMT.

The most recent major conflict outbreak took place in August 2008 during the controversies around the scrapped Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain.

“However, the number of armed skirmishes has gone down significantly in the last two years, with both parties affirming their commitment to observe the ceasefire,” Deles said.

The European Union and Norway have accepted the invitations early this year to join the IMT. The EU will serve as the lead monitor of the humanitarian, rehabilitation and development agreement.

There were unconfirmed reports, however, that the peace talks with the rebel group might be delayed further after MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim suffered a heart attack in Malaysia.

Sources revealed Ebrahim is already half paralyzed after the attack and is now recuperating at a hospital in Sandakan.

Efforts are still being made to iron out disagreements in the peace process, particularly on the involvement of Malaysia as facilitator.

The Philippines demanded that Malaysia first replace its official designated as facilitator before the peace talks could resume.

Murad’s impairment, however, is triggering a bigger rift in the MILF as two factions are eyeing to replace him as chairman of the Muslim separatist group.

The militant faction is reportedly led by MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal while the other bloc is led by MILF vice chairman for military affairs Gadzhali Jaafar.

Former MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu, however, said they have not received any information of Ebrahim being hospitalized in Malaysia but added that they will check on the information immediately. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Edith Regalado