Deploying 10th IMT In Mindanao More Challenging

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- The commissioning of the 10th Mindanao- International Monitoring Team (10-IMT) to monitor the ceasefire between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) may be more challenging before a final peace treaty is signed by the two parties. This follows a battle on Jan 25, which killed 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) personnel and eight MILF armed members, seen as an attempt to undermine the peace agreement. Malaysian Armed Forces Chief, Zulkifeli Mohd Zain said it was important for all 16 officers and men of the 10-IMT to ensure the implementation of their respective duties with full professionalism and remain neutral to ensure the peace process could be achieved soon. "Maybe, there was an attempt to sabotage...but it depends on the Philippine Government and MILF to ensure interference by a third party is contained," he said after despatching the Mindanao-IMT here Tuesday. The final agreement, expected to provide Basic Bangsamoro Law (BBL) was in the process of hearing in the Philippine Congress, he added. Zulkifeli said the 10th Mindanao IMT would leave on March 13, which would be the last group after the final peace agreement was signed. "After it has been signed, perhaps monitoring from certain foreign parties will no longer be needed and a decommissioning committee will be set up to ensure the surrender of arms as enshrined in the agreement. "While Malaysia may be involved in other committees, the Malaysian Armed Forces would most likely, not be involved anymore," he said. The 10th Mindanao-IMT mission led by Major-Gen Sheikh Mokhsin Sheikh Hassan involves 16 men, of which 11 are from the armed forces, two from the police and three civilian employees from the defence and home ministries who would replace the 9th Mindanao IMT which was on duty since March 14, last year. The team will be deployed in four areas, namely Catabato City, Illigan City, Zamboanga and General Santos City. On Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 which vanished on March 8, last year while enroute to Beijing, about an hour after take-off from the KL International Airport at 12.41am, Zulkifeli hoped the missing aircraft would be found. "It is important for family members to be patient as the search operation will continue," he said. On the so-called IS militant threat, Zulkifeli said it was important for laws in the country to be adequate to combat such threats to enable the authorities take more effective measures. "The government's proposal to formulate an anti-violence act is appropriate to contain the threat more effectively." -- BERNAMA