Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: MILF: ‘Pursue education, you’re the next leaders’: IMT tells Bangsamoro youth

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

MILF: ‘Pursue education, you’re the next leaders’: IMT tells Bangsamoro youth

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (May 19): ‘Pursue education, you’re the next leaders’: IMT tells Bangsamoro youth

The International Monitoring Team (IMT) Head of Mission urged the Bangsamoro youth to pursue education considering that they will become the future leaders of the Bangsamoro people during the IMT courtesy meeting with the Southern Mindanao Front (SMF) Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) held at Barangay Daliao, Maasim, Sarangani Province on May 5, 2016.

To prepare for their leadership role in the future, IMT Head of Mission Malaysian MajGen Datu Zamrose Bin Mohammad Zain, stressed “The new generation of Bangsamoro should strive in acquiring education,” during the short program attended by SMF Commander Al-haj Jordan, 104th and 107th BIAF Base Commanders, their subordinates, and forces and community members.

Zain, who heads the 11th batch of the IMT for a peacekeeping mission in Mindanao in support to the peace negotiation between Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), noted that the leaders of Bangsamoro people today are old.

The chief of the peacekeeping mission also suggested to the audiences to “vote for peace” emphasizing the importance to choosing candidates that can help in the on-going peace process.

Speaking in local vernacular in his message, Al-haj Jordan, thanked the international peace monitors for their noble duty of helping to keep peace on the ground that creates a conducive atmosphere for the two parties to talk.

“Their sacrifices to help in the peace process are of big help in our quest for lasting peace and development in our homeland,” he told audiences.

Comprised of contingents from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Japan, the IMT has the task to monitor the upholding of ceasefire agreement between the GPH and MILF.
The peace monitors have been engaging with the Local Monitoring Team and the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities in the ceasefire monitoring efforts.

Observers noted the remarkable reduction of armed encounter incidents between the government troops and MILF combatants since the ceasefire mechanism has been in place.

Zain was joined by the members of the IMT Team Site 4 based in General Santos City. He brought a medical team led by Malaysian Doctor Ariq bin Abdullah to provide free consultation and medicines for the ailing children and adult constituents of Barangay Daliao and nearby villages.