MALAYSIA HOPE SIXTH IMT-MINDANAO MONITORING PROCESS WILL BE FINAL

DAVAO CITY, Mindanao (Philippines), April 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia, the

facilitator of the peace talks and head of the International Monitoring Team

(IMT) that oversees the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, hopes the

sixth year monitoring process involving the Malaysian Armed Forces would be the

last.

Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said the IMT had

performed its duties diligently and managed to resolve a number of disputes and

misunderstandings between the Philippines government an Moro Islamic Liberation

Front (MILF).

"The time has come for the Malaysia led IMT to issue a signal to the

Philippines government and MILF...enough, if they continue to refuse to sign the

peace agreement that is pending since 2008, Malaysia will not be able to assist

further because we (Malaysian government) to do not want to see the issue

prolonged without any settlement," he told reporters here after ending his

two-official visit to Mindanao since April 9 here.

Malaysia is now heading the IMT in Mindanao and the IMT-Mindanao chief is

Mej Gen Datuk Mahadi Yusof from the Malaysian Armed Forces.

Also present was Malaysia''s Ambassador to the Philippines Datuk Seri Dr

Ibrahim Saad.

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LATIFF-MINDANAO 2 (LAST) DAVAO CITY

Dr Abdul Latiff said everything would now depend on the Philippines

government led by President Benigno S. C. Aquino III to decide whether to accept

proposals and demands put forward by MILF.

The developments of the peace process and situation in Mindanao would be

presented to the Cabinet soon while the overall situation looks very positive

because the Philippines government has been having frequent meetings with MILF,

aimed at sealing the peace settlement.

He said based on information gathered by IMT and information from Mej Gen

Datuk Baharom Hamzah who had headed the IMT-Mindanao for a year in 2010, the

involvement of a ''third force'' may be among reasons for the delay in the peace

process, as the ''third force'' used weapons and armed combat to ''disturb'' peace

and harmony among the people.

As such, Dr Abdul Latiff had requested the Philippines government and MILF

to rid the involvement of the ''third force'' which can continue to become an

obstacle to the peace process.

However, the identity of the ''third force'' was not revealed for safety

reasons.

"The Philippines government and MILF must join forces to eliminate the

existence of the ''third force'' in Mindanao to help resolve the dispute and this

process cannot be delayed," said Baharom.

-- BERNAMA

YAM LES JRL