LAST BATCH
Malaysia to pull out peace monitors
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:01:00 11/28/2008
Filed Under: Mindanao peace process
KUALA LUMPUR—Malaysia will pull out the remainder of its peacekeepers in the southern Philippines this month, the foreign minister said here Thursday, signaling frustration with the stalled peace talks between the Philippine government and the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Malaysia began withdrawing 40 cease-fire monitors from Mindanao in April because of frustration over the lack of progress in the talks.
But it left at least 12 peacekeepers with the International Monitoring Team (IMT) that included both military and nonmilitary personnel from Brunei, Libya and Japan.
Thursday, Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said in a statement that Malaysia will halt its participation when its current peacekeeping mandate ends on Nov. 30.
“Malaysia is prepared to consider future participation... when there is progress in the peace process and a formal request is made” by both sides, Rais said.
“Malaysia remains supportive of the peace process and hopes that both sides opt for dialogue and negotiations in bringing about a peaceful solution in Mindanao,” the statement added.
Malaysia had been brokering the peace negotiations between Manila and the MILF, which has been battling for self-rule in the predominantly Catholic Philippines’ volatile south for decades.
The peacekeeping team has been credited with easing violent clashes. Under a 2003 ceasefire, clashes dropped from up to 700 a year to just 15 last year.
The government suspended talks with the rebels in August after three rogue MILF commanders went on a bloody rampage, killing dozens in predominantly Christian communities.
The rebels said they were frustrated after the Supreme Court scrapped a preliminary autonomy deal for minority Muslims, ruling it was unconstitutional.
Malaysian forces had made up the bulk of the IMT.
The move comes despite the Philippine government formally asking Malaysia to keep its troops in the country another three months.
Almost 300 people have been killed in about three months of fighting between security forces and rogue members of the MILF. The conflict has displaced more than 650,000 people, prompting calls for the two sides to return to peace negotiations.
Mohaqher Iqbal, MILF chief peace negotiator, said his group was worried violence could further escalate and spread in the south following the departure of the monitors.
“Some people here might see the withdrawal as a signal to step up military operations against the MILF,” he told Reuters.
Manila hoped Malaysia would reconsider its decision.
“We’re still in talks with the rebel leaders to come to an agreement to ask Malaysia and other states contributing to the monitoring team for another extension,” said Camilo Montesa, an official in the president’s peace process office.
AP; Reuters; AFP
|
