the mindanao peace process in a community of nations

there is a fresh outlook towards a peaceful future in mindanao. when a multilateral group of peace monitors oversee the ceasefire between the government of the republic of the philippines and the moro islamic liberation front, i feel there's a new hope!

i'm encouraged by the following news item in the daily inquirer:

two libyan ceasefire monitors arrived in the philippines before dawn monday, armed forces chief of staff lieutenant general efren abu said monday.

the libyans will join other ceasefire monitors from malaysia and brunei in mindanao, abu said at a press forum hosted by the foreign correspondents association of the philippines (focap).

footage of the monitors’ arrival at the ninoy aquino international airport (naia) at around 4 a.m. was aired on gma network’s “unang hirit” morning newscast. abu said the international monitoring team (imt) would further boost efforts to restart negotiations between the government and the moro islamic liberation front (milf).

the last exploratory talks between the two sides were held in kuala lumpur, malaysia in march 2003. efforts to sustain the negotiations however fell through after the milf was blamed for bomb attacks at the davao international airport and the sasa wharf in davao city. malaysia remains the third party facilitator of the talks.

i'd love to see more nations observing the peace process in mindanao. it's like having a whole community of nations expressing their concern for the peace of our muslim brothers and sisters. after decades of american military intervention in southern philippines--for the so-called pacification of the muslims in mindanao--armed conflicts continued to deepen the wounds between muslims and christians. the involvement of more muslim nations brings fresh air to the peace process in this part of the world.