International-Mindanao (TPA-M12) monitoring team to leave today
KUALA LUMPUR: The International Monitoring Team ( IMT) - Mindanao ( IMT- M12) is expected to leave for Mindanao, the Philippines, this morning to carry on the task of monitoring and supervising the truce between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front ( MILF).
This time, the team is led by Major- General Datuk Masrani Paiman, to replace IMT-M11 which had been on duty since March 14, last year and which will end its duty this March 14.
Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) chief, General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor said this mission would be a continuation in fulfilling the aspiration of the Philippine government and the agreement of the Malaysian government to send a monitoring team for the next 12 months.
“The team this time comprises 16 members with 11 of them from the Malaysian Armed Forces, two from the police ( PDRM) while three are civil servants from the Defence Ministry and Foreign Ministry,” he said at the launching of IMT-M12, here, yesterday.
Also present were Army chief General Datuk Seri Zulkiple Kassim and Royal Malaysian Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin.
Raja Mohamed Affandi said the team’s movement would be divided into two, with the first team led by Masrani with five officers leaving for Mindanao on a commercial flight to do the taking-over process on March 10 while the second team would leave on an RMAF Hercules C-130 aircraft on March 13.
This new team will be placed in four areas, namely Cotabato City, Illigan City, Zamboanga and General Santos City.
Based on records, apart from the IMT- M12 from Malaysia, there were 256 members from various countries, namely Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Qatar and countries of the European Union, involved in the monitoring task since Sept 9, 2004.
Among the main objectives of the team are to carry out the monitoring task and also to oversee the ceasefire in creating a more conducive atmosphere for the peace process between the two sides. — Bernama