Malaysia to initially withdraw 21 troops

Manila: Some 21 Malaysian troops will initially be withdrawn from a 57-strong international team that has been observing the ceasefire agreement between the Philippine government and a major Muslim separatist group in 2003, a local paper said.

The Malaysian peace-keepers will start withdrawing from the International Monitoring Team (IMT) on May 10, said MindaNews, which quoted Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najeeb Tun Razak.

On that day, IMT's offices will also be closed in the cities of Iligan, General Santos, Davao and Zamboanga, the paper said. IMT has 41 troops from Malaysia, 10 from Brunei, five from Libya, and one development expert from Japan, the mission's only non-military member.

In a statement to Malaysian reporters on April 24, Najeeb also talked about Malaysia's plan to undertake "phased withdrawal" of peace keepers from IMT.

Relieved

At the same time, Malaysian General Tan Sri Dato' Sri Abdulaziz also confirmed in Davao City that IMT forces will also be relieved in some areas in the south.

Meanwhile, President Gloria Arroyo conferred the Philippine Legion of Honour award and the rank of Grand Officer to Abdulaziz. Arroyo cited Abdulaziz for "the promotion of peace, security and development in Mindanao".

Philippine Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen Hermogenes Esperon also held a dinner for Abdulaziz at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City, to celebrate the citation. During that dinner, Abdulaziz talked about the "phased withdrawal of Malaysian troopers from IMT".

But he promised that "Malaysia is not abandoning the peace process between the Phililippine government and the MILF".

Since IMT's deployment in the south in 2004, clashes between the government and MILF fighters have greatly reduced.

IMT's tour of duty expires on August 31 this year. From 2004 to 2006, IMT members usually prepared for phasing out and phasing in of contingents in May and in June, experts explained.

The troops would leave in phases in July, and by August only the IMT's head of mission would be around to introduce the incoming head of mission. Negotiators of the Philippine government and the MILF met in Kuala Lumpur in late January this year, said MindaNews.

Malaysian facilitator of the talks Othman Abdul Razak even came to the Philippines in the third week of February this year.