ID :
17298
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 18:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/17298
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MALAYSIA ACCEDES TO THE REQUESTS TO EXTEND IMT IN MINDANAO
PUTRAJAYA, August 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has acceded to requests from the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to extend the International Monitoring Team (IMT) for the short term in Mindanao pending the Philippines Supreme Court's decision on signing of the agreement on ancestral domain.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Rais Yatim said Malaysia acceded to
the requests in order to give space for both sides to resolve the agreement,
which was now awaiting the Philippines Supreme Court's judgement.
He said a three months period should be given for the Malaysia-led IMT
continue supporting the peace negotiations between the Philippines and the MILF.
"After getting the views of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister,
we agreed to extend the IMT mission," he told reporters here Thursday.
The Malaysian peace monitoring team has been in Mindanao since 2004, as
part of the IMT, comprising 41 officers from the Armed Forces and the police,
and supported by officers from few other countries.
The Philippines government and MILF were supposed to sign the agreement
early this month here, but have temporarily delayed it following a judicial
dispute in Manila.
The Philippines Supreme Court blocked the signing of a preliminary accord
granting minority Muslims an expanded homeland as part of a deal to end decades
of Islamic insurgency.
The court issued a temporary restraining order after Christian politicians
from the southern province of North Cotabato objected to the deal because the
government had failed to publicly disclose its contents.
Rais said the extension of the IMT would also allay apprehension caused by
the IMT's departure and to sustain the ceasefire currently in place as well as
to prevent further violations and escalation of violence.
He said Malaysia called upon both sides to exercise utmost restrain from
violating the ceasefire in place and to safeguard the primacy of the peace
process.
"Malaysia also calls upon both sides to respect the IMT, Coordinating
Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and Local Monitoring Team (LMT) in
performing their duties," he said.
He said Malaysia also would continue to support the peace process as
facilitator and will lead the IMT if both parties are serious in their
endeavours to pursue the peace process.
"Malaysia hopes that both parties will strengthen their belief that peace
can only be obtained through negotiations.
"Continued violence would only cause hardship and shall not resolve
the key problems or issues in question," he said.
He said Malaysia also called upon all stakeholders to look at the process
positively, objectively and not be swayed by emotions and detractors' emotions
in order benefit from the durable peace in Mindanao.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Rais Yatim said Malaysia acceded to
the requests in order to give space for both sides to resolve the agreement,
which was now awaiting the Philippines Supreme Court's judgement.
He said a three months period should be given for the Malaysia-led IMT
continue supporting the peace negotiations between the Philippines and the MILF.
"After getting the views of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister,
we agreed to extend the IMT mission," he told reporters here Thursday.
The Malaysian peace monitoring team has been in Mindanao since 2004, as
part of the IMT, comprising 41 officers from the Armed Forces and the police,
and supported by officers from few other countries.
The Philippines government and MILF were supposed to sign the agreement
early this month here, but have temporarily delayed it following a judicial
dispute in Manila.
The Philippines Supreme Court blocked the signing of a preliminary accord
granting minority Muslims an expanded homeland as part of a deal to end decades
of Islamic insurgency.
The court issued a temporary restraining order after Christian politicians
from the southern province of North Cotabato objected to the deal because the
government had failed to publicly disclose its contents.
Rais said the extension of the IMT would also allay apprehension caused by
the IMT's departure and to sustain the ceasefire currently in place as well as
to prevent further violations and escalation of violence.
He said Malaysia called upon both sides to exercise utmost restrain from
violating the ceasefire in place and to safeguard the primacy of the peace
process.
"Malaysia also calls upon both sides to respect the IMT, Coordinating
Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and Local Monitoring Team (LMT) in
performing their duties," he said.
He said Malaysia also would continue to support the peace process as
facilitator and will lead the IMT if both parties are serious in their
endeavours to pursue the peace process.
"Malaysia hopes that both parties will strengthen their belief that peace
can only be obtained through negotiations.
"Continued violence would only cause hardship and shall not resolve
the key problems or issues in question," he said.
He said Malaysia also called upon all stakeholders to look at the process
positively, objectively and not be swayed by emotions and detractors' emotions
in order benefit from the durable peace in Mindanao.
