Indonesia Supports Peace Process in Southern Philippines

Duterte with Ghadzali Jaafar (C), MILF vice chair for political affairs, and Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) Chief of Staff, Sammy Al-Mansour.- file photo.

Jakarta, 11 Shawwal 1438/ July 2017 (MINA) – Indonesian government continues supporting the peace process between the Philippines government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) by sending an observer team to serve in the International Monitoring Team (IMT) program in the southern Philippines.

The dispatch of the Indonesian Observer Team (TPI) for the IMT program has been carried out since 2012 and has given enormous contribution for the peace process between the Philippines government and MILF.

“Our team has been actively participating and taking important roles in the aspects of peace in the field,” Salman Alfarisi, Foreign Ministrys Acting Director General of Multilateral Cooperation said in a press release received by ANTARA on Wednesday.

Indonesia’s crucial role in the peace process in southern Philippines received an appreciation from the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, as he had conveyed during a state visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to the Philippines, last April.

Commander of Task Force of TPI IMT for the period of 2016-2017 revealed that in the political level, the Philippines government and MILF were entering a crucial period.

The future challenges for the peace process will be so dynamic, particularly in regard with the developments in Marawi where is currently still firefight between the Philippines armed forces and Maute group.

The challenges will make the duty of the teams commander for the period of 2017-2018 heavier, as it will become an important period for the peace process in the Philippines.

Female personnels

The dispatch of next TPI IMT personnels also includes the presence of female personnels.

According to Salman, the policy to include female personnels is in line with the UN appeal to encourage womens role in the peace mission.

Indonesian contingent of TPI IMT consists of four military personnel from the TNI and two civilian personnel from the Foreign Ministry departed on Wednesday morning (July 5). Two other military personnel have departed for the Philippines as an “advanced team” by the end of June. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)