MILF: Anti-landmine group to start demining in Mindanao

From the MILF Website (Nov 13): Anti-landmine group to start demining in Mindanao

The Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines and Foundation Suisse De Deminage will start to conduct anti-personnel landmines clearance in the conflict affected zones in Mindanao. This development is contained in the letter jointly addressed to Dean Marvic Leonen and Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the government and MILF peace panels, respectively. The letter was signed by Alfredo Ferrariz Lubang, PCBL National Coordinator, and Craig Willis, FSD Programme Manager. PCBL and FSD informed both panels that the European Union has given financial support towards the implementation of the Joint Landmines/Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Clearance Project, which is in accordance with the “Guidelines for the Implementation of the PCBL-FSD Project” signed in May 2010 in Kuala Lumpur by both panels. PCBL and FSD also stressed the importance of the implementation of all signed agreements between the government and the MILF towards the benefit of the communities affected by the armed conflict, which the two organizations as a great opportunity to further collaborative work in helping the ongoing peace process by implementing one of the earlier signed agreements. They thanked the European Union that with their support and confidence they (PCBL and FSD) will finally be able to start what they consider their long overdue work. They also sought the immediate convening of the meeting of the Task Force on Joint Mine/UXO Detection and Clearance (Article VII) at an agreed convenient date and time in Cotabato City for the following reasons: 1. Briefing of the project based on the EU approved and supported aspects of the implementation guidelines  2. Development and agreement of the modalities of the coordination mechanism and operations structure towards the full implementation of the Guidelines  3. Public event to officially launch the project

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