BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Brunei is likely to follow Malaysia’s lead in pulling peacekeepers out of the Philippines who have been monitoring a truce between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels, a report said yesterday, raising the possibility that the mission there will be disbanded.
Malaysia and Brunei contribute most of the nearly 60 troops, police and other officers responsible for safeguarding the 2003 ceasefire between Manila and the MILF in Mindanao.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said Monday that his country is not planning to send new personnel once the current mandate of its monitors ends in September. He attributed the decision to the lack of progress in peace talks between Manila and the MILF.
Brunei’s Borneo Bulletin newspaper on Wednesday quoted an unidentified official in the Ministry of Defense as saying that “Brunei will probably pull out its men from Mindanao if Malaysia does.” Ministry representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.
The international monitoring team, which has been led by Malaysia since 2004, also includes several military officers from Libya and an economic expert from Japan. Malaysia currently has about 40 personnel in the team while Brunei has 10.
Manila, on the other hand, signified its intention to ask the Malaysian-led peace monitors to extend their participation in the ongoing peace efforts.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said they would ask the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) to keep tabs on the ceasefire agreement between the government and the MILF.
Ermita though clarified they would have to receive formal communication from Malaysia if they intend to pull out.
“We have no such notice from the Malaysian government. What can happen is a reduction of the number of personnel. There really has been no talk of an IMT pullout,” Ermita said.
Ermita pointed out the shaky ceasefire agreement signed on July 19, 2003 with the MILF that must be monitored by the IMT to pave the way for formal peace talks. –AP, Paolo Romero