Sunday, September 03, 2006

New Head Of Truce Observers Arriving In Mindanao

A group of Muslim highschool students gather under the shade of a tree during their break as a government soldier stands guard against Abu Sayyaf attacks in Panamao town in Jolo island in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)

MANILA (Carlos Bourne / 03 Sept) The new head of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) for Mindanao is expected to arrive Monday in Manila to lead the third batch of combined multinational civilian and military personnel set to monitor the peace situation in the southern Philippines.

Major General Ismail bin Ahmad Khan, of the Royal Malaysian Army, has been named as new head of Mission of the Malaysian-led IMT based in Cotabato City, replacing Major General Pahlawan Soheimi bin Abbas, also of Malaysia.

At least 30 members of the second batch of Malaysians in the IMT in Mindanao began leaving for Kuala Lumpur, ending their one-year tour of duty in the restive region after serving at the IMT headquarters and mobile offices in Cotabato and Iligan, Zamboanga, General Santos, and Davao cities.

Replacing them were the same number of fellow Malaysians from the army, air force, navy, police, and socio-economic department.
Among those in the new batch of Malaysian IMT members are at least five police officials and 25 military officers including Malaysian Air Force Brigadier General Zainal bin Abdul Rahman as the new Deputy Head of Mission replacing Malaysian Navy First Admiral Mohd Som bin Ibrahim.

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