Malaysia to pull out peace monitors

Malaysia said it would pull out its peace monitors in Mindanao this week and that its participation in the International Monitoring Team (IMT) will cease as talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) remain suspended following the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD).

“Malaysia is suspending its participation in the IMT upon expiry of its mandate. Malaysia’s participation in the IMT will cease as scheduled on Nov. 30,” Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim said in a statement.

He said Malaysia would consider deploying peace monitors again when there is progress in the peace negotiations.

“Malaysia is prepared to consider its future participation in the IMT, when there is progress in the peace process and a formal request is made by both the peace panels of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF),” he said.

He said Malaysian “remains supportive of the peace process and hopes that both sides opt for dialogue and negotiations in bringing about a peaceful solution in Mindanao.”

Last August, the IMT’s stint was extended for three months after Malaysia agreed during a meeting of the two peace panels.

The IMT includes military and non-military personnel from Libya, Brunei and Japan.

The government has sought an extension of the IMT’s stay beyond Nov. 30, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said.

In a dinner with the IMT contingent at Dusit Hotel in Makati City, Esperon said it was important for the IMT to stay longer so the government could realize its goal to have lasting peace in Mindanao.

“We all know that ceasefire arrangements with the IMT have worked wonders in the fragile if not difficult road to peace,” he said.

Joined by Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano, Esperon awarded plaques of recognition and tokens of appreciation to the heads of the different IMT contingents.

For his part, Yano said alternate peace mechanisms would take over following Malaysia’s pullout to keep tabs on the ceasefire agreement with the MILF.

Yano said the peace mechanisms would be in place once the different governments represented in the IMT would not agree to an extension.

He said other structures such as the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (JCCCH) could ensure that the ceasefire agreement is being observed.

Yano said the security situation in Mindanao would not be affected but that he is still hoping the IMT would extend its stay upon the request of the Philippine government.

“I do not see any substantial effect because we have other peace mechanisms on the ground. We have the JCCCH of both of the government and MILF; we have local monitoring teams, too,” he said. – With James Mananghaya, Jose Rodel Clapano and wire reports