MILF asks civilian peace monitors to stay 'neutral'

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has asked civilian peacekeepers of the International Monitoring Team to remain neutral in doing their duty in conflict-hit areas in Mindanao. MILF peace panel secretariat head Jun Mantawil made the appeal at the launching of the IMT's Civilian Protection Component (CPC) in Cotabato City. "The neutrality and clout of CPC members will ensure the success of their mission as civilian protectors," an article posted Thursday on the MILF website quoted Mantawil as saying. He noted that the CPC is a mechanism to ensure the observance of the international humanitarian law (IHL) and other human rights laws in areas of conflict. Mantawil represented MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal at the launching. Earlier, the Mindanao People’s Caucus (MPC) organized an all-women peace monitors who took their oath before North Cotabato Governor Lala Taliño-Mendoza. Malaysian Maj. Gen. Datuk Baharom Bin Hamzah, IMT-5 Head of Mission, described the CPC as a mechanism to promote strong partnership between the government and the people to improve peace and security in communities. Hamzah said the CPC will monitor the commitment of both the Philippine government and the MILF to the IHL and other human rights laws and report their adherence and/or violation of such. IMT-5 and its partners have put up 10 field offices with over 100 personnel to begin this work. The CPC is currently composed of the Nonviolent Peace-force (NP), Mindanao People’s Caucus (MPC), Mindanao Human Rights Action Center, Inc. (MinHRAC) and the Muslim Organization of Government Officials and Professionals, Inc. (MOGOP). In his keynote address at the launch, Hamzah made a strong assurance that the IMT and the CPC along with their partners will be active during the period in assisting the agencies concerned in monitoring peace and security and in protecting civilian safety. He stressed the organization of the CPC is a manifestation of "Malaysia’s desire to see a more peaceful and secure Mindanao" and its commitment to espouse "a sustainable and lasting peace agreement." Government officials earlier said they were just awaiting the go signal from third party facilitator Malaysia when to resume talks with the MILF, the biggest secessionist group in southern Philippines. Talks with the MILF started in 1997. — RSJ, GMANews.TV