Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi Rreceives Visit from MILF Delegation

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

Jakarta, MINA – Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, on Thursday received a visit from the delegation of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of South Philippines.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Arrmanatha Nasir, said here on Thursday that the purpose of the MILF`s visit to Indonesia was to learn the successful peace process in Aceh Province.

“The foreign minister has conveyed her support to the ongoing efforts in South Philippines in order to achieve peace, and she has also encouraged all parties, including MILF, to contribute to the peace building process and to maintain peace,” Nasir stated about the meeting.

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During their visit to Indonesia, the MILF delegation was scheduled to meet several representatives of Indonesian Islamic organization, such as Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, and also the Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

“Indonesia has been consistent and active in enabling the peace process in South Philippines since the 90s, including its involvement in the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in the South Philippines,” Nasir revealed.

As of 2018, Indonesia has tasked as many as 84 personnel, either from the Garuda contingent or civilians, to the IMT, which was created in 2004 to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement forged by the Philippines government and the MILF in southern Philippines in 2003.

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Indonesia`s involvement in peace building and deradicalization efforts was also shown when Marsudi launched a cooperation agreement with the local government on the field of Islamic education during her visit to Davao City of South Philippines earlier this year.

The cooperation was launched by Marsudi in Madrasa Al Munawwara of Davao City, South Philippines.

The southern region of Philippines has long been struggling with an insurgency, where violence flared last year in the city of Marawi in the Island of Mindanao.

The governments of Indonesia and Philippines had agreed on the importance of developing Islamic education, which will cover curriculum developments; joint research and education workshops; Ulema, principal, and teacher exchange programs; technical vocational education (benchmarking activities); and student exchange programs, especially in Islamic schools in South Mindanao.

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Indonesia has also offered 100 scholarships, which include international transport, tuition fee, and living cost, each year to students and teachers of Islamic schools or madrassas of Mindanao, the Philippines, to study in Indonesia. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)