Thursday, September 20, 2007


Sep. 20, 2007 (Xinhua News Agency delivered by Newstex) -- Australia seeks more direct role in south Philippines peace talks

MANILA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Australia has expressed interest in playing a more direct role in the peace process between the government and the anti-government Moro Islamic Liberation Front ( MILF), an MILF official said Thursday.

Australia has been providing support to development projects in war-torn areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and other parts of the southern island in a bid to bolster peace talks between the government and the MILF, reported Philippine Daily Inquirer.

But Eid Kabalu, MILF civil-military affairs chief, said Canberra now wants to join the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT).

The IMT is a body created by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the military and the MILF.

Recently, non-OIC members Japan and Canada were allowed to become part of the IMT.

Japan's role in the IMT is focused on the socio-economic aspect of the peace process while Canada said it will help develop governance.

It was not clear whether Australia wants to send military representatives to the IMT like Malaysia, Brunei, Libya and other OIC countries have done.

Kabalu said the role would become clear once Australia's bid had finally been accepted.

'It will be discussed once the peace talks resume in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, after the Ramadan,' he said.

Newstex ID: XIN-0001-19708391


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