AWANG AIRPORT, Maguindanao – Seventeen Malaysian peacekeepers with the International Monitoring Team 5 (IMT-5) for the Mindanao peace process arrived here Sunday evening with the peace panel of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on hand to welcome them.

This marks the fifth deployment of the IMT which includes Libya, Brunei, and Japan. Malaysia heads the foreign monitors. While overall head of IMT-5 is Maj. Gen. Datuk Baharom Bin Hamza of the Malaysian Armed Forces.

Malaysia has 20 IMT members but three others were left behind. They are expected to arrive anytime.
It was learned that Indonesia has accepted the invitation to join the IMT-5 and is ready to send 10 peace monitors. Norway, also invited, has yet to respond.

The Malaysians were to arrive at about 5 p.m., but they had to take a more high-technology aircraft because Awang Airport has no provisions for night landing.

“We have to arrive today (Sunday) by all means because that is what we promised the Philippine government,” a Malaysian official was quoted as saying.

GRP peace panel head Ambassador Rafael Seguis was already at the airport to welcome the delegation.

The MILF sent Toks Ebrahim, chairman of the group’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH).

Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator, and Ghazali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for Political Affairs, told the Manila Bulletin in separate interviews that the arrival of the Malaysian signals the new mandate of the IMT-5.

“This is a very welcome development,” the two MILF leaders said.

Jaafar said the IMT will be deployed in the cities of Cotabato, General Santos, Zamboanga, and Iligan.
Iqbal said that with the IMT-5 in place and the situation on the ground stable, he hopes the peace talks will go on and conclude with a comprehensive compact.

Meanwhile, the Web site Luwaran.net said IMT-5, unlike its past versions, has four components, such as security, socio-economic, rehabilitation, and civilian protection.

IMT-5 is mandated “to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquility on the ground while the peace negotiation is being conducted across the negotiating table.”