MILF appoints security staff for monitoring team

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Sunday said it had appointed 20 security personnel for the Malaysia-led International Monitoring Team supervising peace talks between the government and the Moro secessionist group in Mindanao. Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF negotiating panel, said the appointment of the security personnel took effect last April 1. "Pursuant to the redeployment of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao to monitor the implementation of the GRP-MILF peace process on the ground, particularly the ceasefire, rehabilitation, development and humanitarian aspects, the MILF Central Committee decided to appoint security personnel for the IMT," Iqbal said in an article on the MILF Website on Sunday. According to the MILF, the security personnel will be assigned at the International Monitoring Team headquarters in Cotabato City and various sites in the cities of Iligan, Zamboanga and General Santos. The monitoring team is made up of representatives from Malaysia, Brunei, Libya and Japan. The governments of Indonesia, Qatar and Norway were also invited to join the team but these yet to decide. Brunei recently informed the government and MILF its plan to deploy additional contingent. Iqbal said all appointees had been ordered to observe the protocol with respect to the peace process. "We must afford the [International Monitoring Team] with the most profound courtesy and respect, for its mission is considered diplomatic and constituting international relations. Hence, its personnel must be treated as diplomats," he said. Pursuant to the Terms of Reference of the monitoring team signed in Malaysia last December 9, the government and MILF must provide security personnel who will accompany the team during field work. — NPA, GMANews.TV