COTABATO CITY, Nov. 10 (PNA) — The chief of the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) expressed optimism on the success of the Mindanao peace process.
Major Gen. Dato Abd Samad bin Hadji Yaakub, head of mission of the 9th IMT – helping both the government and the MILF in the efficient implementation of the ceasefire agreement – said he is confident the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front can successfully establish the Bangsamoro entity before its Mindanao peacekeeping mission ends in 2016.
The IMT started its mission in Mindanao in late 2003 and since a year later, not a single military-MILF clash had been reported.
The IMT is composed of unarmed soldiers from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Libya and non-military personnel from Norway, Japan and European Union. The civilian members are conflict resolution and rehabilitation experts.
In 2016, the IMT will end its presence in Mindanao and its leaders believe that by then, armed confrontation will no longer be necessary.
Once the enabling law is approved by Congress early next year and ratified by the people, a new Bangsamoro government will replace the current autonomous government.
The establishment of Bangsamoro government as a new political entity is a result of the 17-year-old peace process aimed at ending decades-old armed conflict in southern Philippines.
As the IMT slowly prepares for its exit, possibly in March next year, Samad said the new political entity is facing one huge problem that must be addressed the soonest possible time.
He was referring to family feud, locally known as “rido,” which is rampant in most areas to be covered by the new political entity.
One major component of the GPH-MILF peace accord is the decommissioning of MILF. However, the new government has to deal with the settlement of family feud. Most of those locked in family feud are heavily armed but they do not belong to the MILF.
Speaking to reporters, Samad said to hasten the resolution of armed conflict involving Moro families, there has to be a strong justice system and livelihood opportunities and infrastructure development in poor communities.
Samad also lauded the cooperation and support extended by the Philippine military to the IMT.
“We appreciate the Army’s high respect of the AFP for human rights,” Samad said.
The Malaysian government is always ready to push for the success of the process, especially now that both sides have already laid down the foundation, he said. (PNA)