Gov't seeks continuous assistance from IMT

From the Sun Star (Jan 19): Gov't seeks continuous assistance from IMT

The Government of the Philippines (GPH) has urged the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) to continue to assist the negotiating panels to reach a just and lasting peace in Mindanao. The government made the call as the GPH peace panel convened for the first time the full contingent of the IMT recently to brief them on the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) that the Aquino administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed in October last year.

"With you on the ground and as one of our great partners in committing peace, I think it is very important that you should be kept updated on what's happening in the peace talks," peace panel member Yasmin Busran-Lao said, acknowledging that since its establishment in 2004, the IMT has efficiently helped in the significant decrease of recorded ceasefire violations between the GPH and MILF.

"We have to work together in this because the end goal is the same. The government as well as the MILF, together with all the peoples of Bangsamoro want a just and lasting peace," said GPH peace panel member Senen Bacani.

"There will be deliberate efforts made in that regard so that hopefully the final product, will have ownership of all of the governed," he added, explaining further that many of the details will have to be done after due consultations with the stakeholders. Whatever inputs they may have, the result will embody the true aspirations of the Bangsamoro," Bacani said.

The 55-member IMT is tasked to monitor the ceasefire, humanitarian, rehabilitation and socio-economic agreements between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Member-countries of the IMT are Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Libya and Norway. In addition the European Union has two persons. Four non-government organization (NGOs) also sit in the Civilian Protection Component of the IMT.

IMT-7 Head of Mission Dato' Abdul Rahim Bin Mohd Yusoff vowed "that the IMT will continue to work in sustaining the ceasefire and security of the current GPH-MILF peace process." The panel members said that the negotiating panels will be working out the remaining issues in the next round of talks in Kualal Lumpur this month.

The IMT operates in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga-Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Palawan.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2013/01/19/govt-seeks-continuous-assistance-imt-263701