MILF Chair issues official statement on impending IMT pull-out

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim released today an official statement regarding the latest crisis hitting the 11-year old peace talks with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), the latest of which is the impending withdrawal of the Malaysian members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT). The two-page document is accompanied by another paper outlining the summary of events leading to the pullback of the IMT and the reason for the current crisis in the peace talks.

The second document was prepared by the MILF committee on information tasked by the MILF central committee to prepare and released to the public and the media as soon as it is finished.

Murad said the Philippine Government bears the responsibility to comply with its commitment to adhere to the consensus points and agreed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) draft proposal on Ancestral Domain.

He said such moves will avert the peace process from falling apart and to signify progress to the Malaysian Government and for them to schedule another round of talks that will lead to the signing of the MOA and thereby make them reconsider the decision to pull back their contingent in the IMT.

He clarified that the real issue in the present controversy surrounding the IMT and the whole peace process is the very sincerity and true intention of the Government to pursue the Peace Talks.(Source: luwaran.com)