Malaysia pulls out remaining peacekeepers in Southern Philippines

The remaining contingent of Malaysian peacekeepers, who were part of the International Monitoring Team, departs Mindanao on Sunday, November 30, 2008. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Service / Mark Navales)

SHARIFF KANSUNSUAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 30, 2008) – Malaysia has pulled out Sunday all its remaining peacekeepers in the restive southern Philippines island of Mindanao.

Peace talks between Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Arroyo government collapsed in August after the failed the signing of the Muslim homeland deal. The failed deal triggered rebel attacks in August in several provinces in Mindanao.

Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, a Philippine Army spokesman, said the remaining 12 Malaysian peacekeepers led by Admiral Dato Pahlawan Amzah Bin Sulaiman flew out of Mindanao onboard a Malaysian Air Force transport plane. The Malaysians were part of the International Monitoring Team composed of Libya, Brunei and Japan and Canada.

“The terms of reference of the IMT, which expired today, had not been renewed and the remaining 12 Malaysian peacekeepers were recalled by their government. They left at 2.45 p.m. today from the Awang airport (in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Shariff Kabunsuan province),” Ando said.

The Malaysian-led IMT had been in Mindanao since 2004. It was made up of 41 Malaysian Armed Forces and Royal Malaysian Police officers, supported by 10 army officers from Brunei, five from Libya and the team has been expanded to have personnel from Canada and Japan.

In May, Malaysia also pulled out a team of truce observers in Mindanao.

Ando said the Brunei contingent would remain in Mindanao. He said the pull out of the peacekeepers will have no significant effect on the current situation in Mindanao.

But the MILF said those from Libya, Japan and Canada would report to their embassies in Manila. “They will report to their respective embassies in Manila and we hope the IMT would be reactivated again to monitor the cease-fire between the MILF and the Philippines government,” said Eid Kabalu, a senior MILF leader.

“We still have a cease-fire agreement with the MILF. The truce is still in effect, although, sporadic clashes continue in some areas because of our operation against rogue MILF members behind the August attacks in Mindanao,” he said.

Malaysia said it is prepared to consider future participation in the IMT if there is progress in the peace process and a formal request is made by both the peace panels.

Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said they suspended participation in the IMT after its mandate expired Sunday.
“Malaysia remains supportive of the peace process and hope that the two sides opt for dialogue and negotiations in bringing about a peaceful solution in Mindanao,” Rais said.

Fighting between security and rebel forces was also reported in Basilan island, south of Zamboanga City. Clashes broke out Friday and that one civilian was killed in the fighting in the towns of Al-Barka and Tipo-Tipo, both strongholds of the MILF in Basilan island.

President Gloria Arroyo opened up peace talks in 2001 with the MILF, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group fighting for self-determination in Mindanao, but despite the cease-fire accord, hostilities still continue with both sides accusing each other of violating the fragile truce. (With a report from Mark Navales)

Extend Term Of Reference Of Intl Truce Observers: Institute of Bangsamoro Studies

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Malaysian Truce Observers Hailed, Praised In South RP

Malaysian doctor Meor Adzary from the GRP-MILF International Monitoring Team gives free check-up to a T’boli woman in the village of Maligang in Kiamba town in Sarangani province. (Mindanao Examiner Photo/Gandhi Kinjiyo)

SARANGANI, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 21, 2008) – Malaysian truce observers deployed in southern Philippines provided free medical care to hundreds of indigenous people as part of their commitment to help poor communities in Mindanao.

The Malaysians, members of the International Monitoring Team, were assisted by local health volunteers during the day-long humanitarian mission held in the town of Kiamba in Sarangani province.

Most of those who benefited from the medical mission were T’boli natives in the villages of Maligang and Gasi on Tuesday. “Dubbed as “Joint Medical Mission for Peace,” the activity was sponsored by the GRP-MILF International Monitoring Team, the Local Government Units of Kiamba and Kalinaw Sarangani Unit under the Office of the Governor of Sarangani,” said Kiamba Vice Mayor Dr. Elmer de Peralta.

Malaysian doctor Meor Adzary, from the Medical Team of IMT, was joined by Dr. Harry Famular, from the Department of Health-Region 12 in providing free services the villagers.

“The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process and the Malaysian Government provided the medicines and vitamins,” Cmdr. Zainudin Mat Zain, RMN, Team Site 4 leader of the IMT revealed.

Zainuddin also praised local government units of Kiamba and the Office of the Governor for the assistance to the medical mission. “If we work as a team, we can achieve whatever we plan,” he said.

In order to maximize services to the beneficiaries, free birth registration by the Local Civil Registrar, distribution of free seedlings of trees immunization and branding of live stocks by the Municipal Agriculture Office was also held.

The regular session of the Sangguniang Bayan of Kiamba was held simultaneously during the medical mission. “This is done in order to let the people know we’re trying to reach them out and hear their voice,” the vice mayor said.

The staff of the Kalinaw Sarangani Unit (KSU) and Maligang Health Workers served as interpreters and assisted in the distribution of medicines.

Maligang is identified as one of the 35 Peace and Development Communities (PDCs) of the province. PDCs receives intervention from the Peace and Development Program of the province through the KSU such as seminars on mediation, culture of peace, provision of Tindahan para sa Kalinaw, Botika ng Barangay, and other social services.

T’bolis comprise 95% of the population of both villages with high illiteracy rate among the adults. Abaca, corn and copra are the major produces of the two villages. Farming is the major economic activity of the constituents. The IMT, composed of contingents from Malaysia, Libya, Brunei, and Japan, is tasked to monitor the ceasefire agreement between the GRP and the MILF while the peace talks in ongoing. The Malaysian government facilitates the GRP-MILF peace process.

With the presence of the IMT for more than two years, there was a remarkable reduction of incidence of skirmishes between forces of government and MILF.

The MILF is the largest group of Moro secessionist in the country.

Governor Miguel Rene A. Dominguez and Kiamba Mayor Rommel Falgui expressed their appreciation to the IMT team for their humanitarian mission. (Gandhi Kinjiyo)

Despite Impasse In Peace Talks, IMT Stays In Mindanao, Says Malaysian Commander

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Malaysia-led Truce Observers Satisfied With Mindanao Cease-fire

Northern Mindanao police director Chief Supt. Florante Baguio, left, Malaysian Maj. Gen. Dato Mohd Ismail Bin Ahmad Khan, 2nd from left, head of the internatioanl truce observers, Philippines Brig. Gen Edgardo Gurrea, 3rd from left, and Von Al Haq, right, of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front during a press conference Thursday 05 Oct 2006 at Camp Alagar in Cagayan de Oro City. (Dante Sudaria)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mike Banos / 06 Oct) – The International Monitoring Team 3 (IMT-3) overseeing the peace process between the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) expressed satisfaction over the progress of the negotiations, despite a deadlock in the talks aimed at ending more than three decades of Muslim rebellion in Mindanao.

Maj. Gen. Dato Mohd Ismail bin Ahmad Khan of Malaysia, IMT-3 head, said in a meeting here Thursday that his country remains committed to overseeing the peace process for the Philippines in general, and Mindanao in particular, to help Filipinos attain "everlasting peace."

Malaysia is brokering the peace talks, but the negotiations stalled after both sides failed to sign an agreement on the so-called Muslim ancestral domain.

Ismail was accompanied by Brig. Gen. Edgardo M. Gurrea, chairman of the government’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and his counterpart in the MILF, Von Al Haq.

Gurrea and Al Haq’s groups have briefed Ismail about the truce agreement.

"Our purpose is to orient Gen. Ismail and introduce him to the various heads of the LGUs, AFP and PNP commands covered by the GRP-MILF conflict areas.”

“Despite the impasse in the peace panel talks, we are happy to note the ceasefire mechanism at all levels is still in place and discharging its intended purpose to keep the peace,” Gurrea told the Mindanao Examiner.

The IMT-3 was on the second leg of its orientation tour which included the two Lanao provinces, Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon province where Ismail met Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri Jr. before proceeding to Cotabato City.

During the first leg of its visit, the team toured the cities of Cotabato and Davao and the Socsksargen (Sarangani, South Cotabato, General Santos) region. The final leg of the tour will cover Western Mindanao, including Zamboanga City and Sulu Archipelago.

Gurrea clarified that while the ongoing peace talks were focusing on three main talking points -- security, rehabilitation and development of conflict areas and ancestral domain, or the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity -- the ongoing orientation tour was more focused on security and the monitoring of the peace and order situation in the identified conflict areas, to ensure that any violations of the truce accord would be properly addressed by the authorities not deteriorate into a wider conflict involving security and rebel forces.

Prior to the start of the peace process and the organization of the IMT, the GRP-MILF conflict areas had over 700 violence-related incidents. After the tour of the IMT-1, this was reduced to approximately 500, and went down further to only 10 last year under the tour of IMT-1.

"We are happy to note that there has been no incidents reported under IMT-3, and our fighting target is to maintain this zero level for the duration of the one year tour of Gen. Ismail," Gurrea said.

Ismail also noted that the present areas of disagreement between the GRP and MILF peace panels were focused on "political and diplomatic" issues and not conflict related, which demonstrates that the CCCH mechanism is working to prevent violent conflict from breaking out between the AFP and MILF armed forces.

For his part, Al Haq expressed satisfaction that all parties involved in the peace forces were facing and working towards one direction, which is the attainment of a just and lasting peace in Mindanao.

"The essence of Ramadan is sacrifice, and all of us should offer a measure of sacrifice for the greater good of a just and lasting peace," Al Haq said.

Gurrea cautioned that despite the zero incidences of GRP-MILF violence-related incidents under IMT-3's stewardship, "We must continue to be vigilant against those who seek to disrupt the ongoing peace talks."

"What's important is the mechanism of the CCCH is holding and keeping the peace, to allow the GRP-MILF peace talks to continue under an atmosphere conducive to negotiation and settlement," he added.

Other members of the IMT-3 team accompanying Ismail were Lt. Col. Nazeri bin Ismail, Maj. Mustaffa bin Ibrahim, Lt. Cmdr. Muhd Shakir bin Salleh, Capt. Azuan bin Salehuddin, Capt (DR) Amran bin Amir Hamzah, Cpl. Zainal bin Othman, and Encik Hisham bin Rosle, all of Malaysia. (Mindanao Examiner)