Brunei and MILF

Manila Bulletin on 2nd September 2009 had the following news:-

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Top Brunei officials hold talks with MILF, other rebel leaders

COTABATO CITY – A delegation of top-ranking government officials from Brunei Darussalam visited Camp Darapanan of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao for a meeting with MILF Chairman Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim and other rebel leaders on Monday.

The Brunei officials’ visit, led by Deputy Defense Minister Yang Berhomat Pehin Datu Singamenteri Dato Seri Paduka Mohd Yasmin Bin Haji Umar, came amid calls from various foreign and local sectors to resume the collapsed peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the MILF.

On the other hand, Senator Rodolfo Biazon asked GRP to suspend immediately the resumption of negotiations, which floundered in August 2008, because of the some MILF members’ participation in the Basilan clashes last August 12.

The meeting of the Brunei officials and MILF leaders focused new developments surrounding the Mindanao peace process. Brunei joined the defunct International Monitoring Team (IMT), a mechanism monitoring the ceasefire, rehabilitation and development aspects of the 2001 Tripoli Agreement on Peace between the GRP and the MILF.

As this developed, Dato Yasmin renewed Brunei’s support to the Mindanao peace process.

While Murad expressed the MILF and the Bangsamoro people’s “utmost gratitude and appreciation” to Brunei, its “great leaders” and their people “for the assurances of strong commitment and continuing support to the peace process.”

“As a matter of ideology and policy, the MILF believes that the most civil and practical way to resolve the conflict in Mindanao is through peaceful and democratic means,” said the MILF chieftain.

An article on the MILF’s Web site said “Dato Yasmin cited with high notes the declarations of SOMO and SOMA and the GRP-MILF Special Meeting, even as he emphasized the unwavering commitment and support of the government of Brunei and its people headed by His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to the peace process between the government and MILF.”

On July 23 President Arroyo declared a suspension of military offensives (SOMO) which Murad reciprocated on July 25 with a suspension of military activities (SOMA).

Dato Yasmin’s delegation in the visit to Camp Darapanan included Puan Yang Terutama Malai Hajah Halimah Binti Malai Haji Yussof, Brunei Ambassador to the Philippines; Pengiran Haji Maidin Bin Pengiran Haji Said, defence attaché of Brunei Embassy in the Philippines; Sitti Binti Othman, assistant defense attaché; Colonel Pengiran Zulkifli bin Pengiran Haji Ismail; Colonel Muzri bin Haji Moksin; Lt. Colonel Haji Abidin bin Harris; and Capt. Haji Fadzly Bin Haji Abdullah.