Malaysian peace monitors in Mindanao leave, new team comes in

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 14): Malaysian peace monitors in Mindanao leave, new team comes in

Malaysian military officials today ended their one year tour of duty as peace observers of the government peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) even as they welcomed another team of peace monitors to continue its mission in southern Philippines.

In simple turnover ceremonies here, Major Gen. Dato Sheik Mokhsin, head of International Monitoring Team (IMT-01), handed over the IMT mission banner to his successor, Major Gen. Datuk Wira Zamrose.

Zamrose will lead 15 Malaysian military officials to be deployed in various areas in Mindanao to continue Malaysia's role in bringing genuine peace in Mindanao.

He is a Malaysian Army division commander until his assignment here.

The IMT is composed of unarmed military and civilian representatives from Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, Japan, Norway and the European Union.

Malaysia has been the "third party" facilitator of the peace process since 2001, hosting several meetings of government and MILF peace panels in Kuala Lumpur.

Before today's ceremonies, Mokhsin also met with leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the rebel group's main base - Camp Darapanan in Barangay Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

In that meeting, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim asked the outgoing IMT officials to convey his message of gratitude and appreciation to Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib Razak.

“The continuous sending of the IMT contingent is a clear manifestation that both parties and the facilitating country, Malaysia, are very much committed to continue the peace process,” Murad said during the IMT's exit call to the MILF leadership.

Murad told the outgoing peace monitors he was saddened by the fate of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the Philippine Congress.

According to Murad, the draft bill, once it becomes a law, will be the final stage of the peace process because it will implement what has been agreed in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

"A political agreement cannot be implemented unless it is translated into law," he told the Malaysians.

Despite the fate of the BBL, Murad said the MILF leadership and the Bangsamoro people are elated with the commitment shown and expressed by Prime Minister Razak.

In his February 26 meeting with the Malaysian head of state, Murad said Razak renewed his commitment to continue helping both sides in achieving the goal of the peace process.

Murad said the MILF will also give the same support and commitment it has given to new set of peace monitors.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=866386