Kuala Lumpur agrees to send IMT to Basilan

Malaysia has finally agreed to allow the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to lead a fact-finding mission in Basilan after the clash between the Muslim seccessionist forces and Philippine Marines last month which resulted in the death of 28.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel said they had received the information Wednesday afternoon.

“This is a good development,” Jun Mantawil, chairperson of the MILF peace panel secretariat, said, adding that truth will come out soon.

He said the IMT-led probe team would also determine which party violated the ceasefire that led to that deadly encounter in Basilan.

The government said only 14 Marines were killed, but the MILF said they have body-counted 23, in addition to 17 high-powered firearms captured.

During the 13th GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks in Kuala Lumpur on September 6-7, 2006, the Parties have already decided to include Basilan and Palawan to the jurisdiction of the IMT but due to the breakdown of the talks over the issue of territory, no documents were signed and therefore cannot be implemented on the ground.

The only way the IMT can go to Basilan is when Malaysia, which is facilitating the talks, will give the green light, which it did after consulting the Parties to the talks.

“This is a very significant turn of event in knowing the truth about the beheading of the Marines and Imam Alkanul,” Mohagher Iqbal, chairperson of the MILF peace panel, said.

The MILF CCCH, government CCCH, and the IMT are reportedly held their first session yesterday in starting drafting the guidelines on how best to carry out the fact-finding mission in Basilan.

A report also disclosed that IMT chief of mission, Major General Ishmail bin Khan is out of the country.