|
Manila: The Malaysian-led peace monitors of a ceasefire between the Philippine government and a major secessionist group will monitor socio-economic development in Mindanao, a sign that peace will return there, a senior official said.
The Malaysian government has a plan to recompose the military component of the 40 peace-keepers, into socio-economic workers on the ground (in the south).
It does not mean that there will be a total pull-out of the Malaysian-led international peace-keepers from Mindanao, explained Rodolfo Garcia in a TV interview.
The members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) will now monitor ceasefire as well as the socio-economic development in conflict areas, as the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) continue negotiating, said Garcia.
"Hopefully, the Philippine government and the MILF could sign a peace settlement before August," Garcia said. He did not give more details. IMT's presence in the south will end in September, the sources said.
The Philippine government and the MILF are yet to finalise the number of Muslim-dominated villages to be added to the five provinces and one city comprising the existing Autonomous Region for Muslims in Mindanao (ARMM). They have yet to agree on the proposed 75-25 per cent sharing of taxes earned by the expanded ARMM, in favour of the ARMM.
Initially, they agreed to jointly flush terrorists out of the autonomous region and to establish the Bangsamoro Development Authority (BDA) to identify, get funds, and oversee development projects in the south.
"While we are talking, I don't think there is a need for a pullout of the IMT now [before September]. The pullout [ahead of the end of IMT's mandate] has been construed by others," Garcia explained. It was in response to Malaysian foreign minister Rais Yatim who talked to the state news agency Bernama yesterday about IMT's plan to leave Mindanao in September. Garcia hinted that talks are also underway for the transition of the IMT from a peacekeeper to a team of economic observers.
|
