|
By Anthony A. Vargas Reporter
CHURCH officials on Monday
expressed concerns over the impending pullout of Malaysian troops
from the International Monitoring Team (IMT) that oversees the
implementation of a ceasefire between the government and the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao.
Cotabato Archbishop Orlando
Quevedo, O.M.I., said the pull out of Malaysian troops in the IMT
has brought some apprehension to both Christians and Muslims in
Mindanao.
“The withdrawal of Malaysian
monitors would have a series of effects on the cessation of
hostilities [between government troops and MILF rebels],” Quevedo
said in a report posted on the CBCP website.
Malaysia had earlier advised that
its peacekeepers are pulling out based on an official schedule, but
will not abandon peace efforts for which it is exploring new formats
of negotiations that may see a limited number of Malaysian forces
remain in the Philippines.
The country’s southern neighbor
has led an international team tasked with monitoring a truce between
Manila and the 12,000-strong MILF, which has waged a bloody campaign
for a separate Muslim homeland since 1978.
The presence of the international
monitors in Mindanao has led to a drop in the number of clashes,
from 589 incidents in 2004 to only 15 violations last year, as
acknowledged by Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon.
The Cotabato prelate added they
hope that the pullout of foreign troops will not have any adverse
effect on the role played by Malaysia in the peace process between
the GRP and MILF.
“Not so much probably on the
peace process as a whole because Malaysia is committed as a mediator
of the peace process [between the GRP and MILF],” Quevedo said.
Another Cotabato prelate, Bishop
Jose Bagaforo said they are very apprehensive over the pullout of
Malaysian troops in the IMT, saying tension in the South between
government and MILF troops could escalate.
“There are many apprehensions.
Without them [Malaysians], many are afraid there will be no one to
mediate and negotiate on violations,” Bagaforo said in an
interview over Radio Veritas, a church run radio station.
Bagaforo added that the MILF were
not happy about the reported pullout and the presence of the
Malaysians in the IMT gives them an assurance that government troops
will not attack them.
|
