Kodus to Dureza, Libyan Government

February 20, 2010

ON THE SIDE OF PEACE: Rina de Jesus

There is much to be said on how the Libyan Government has finally yielded to send in no less than 25 ceasefire monitors to assist sustain the ceasefire in Mindanao between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Thanks to the requests of the Philippine Government through the invitations of our peace czar from Mindanao Presidential Assistant Jesus Dureza and of course his staff who make sure that all angles towards peace are explored and weighed out.

Although, Dureza had received word from Sec. Bert Gonzales from Tripoli that the first four of these 25 ceasefire monitoring members as the initial contingent, many of us are convinced that this is already a bold step to bring our war-torn island Mindanao closer to peace.

At present, Dureza said six (6) Libyan monitors had been assigned to man the International Monitoring Team Site in Iligan City and the arrival of 4 more will have completed the 10-member contingent Libya committed to in 2006.

“The actual deployment, however, will have to depend on mutually agreed arrangements with the proper levels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). We are confident that all sectors will welcome this positive development,” Dureza had said.

Indeed such are welcome news as well for us. We are grateful that this gesture of faith to our peace process is now given a chance as we continue to hope for Libya’s sustained and deepening participation in the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

We hope that as Dureza and his peace keepers will continue to push for a ceasefire as we hope others will appreciate their efforts just to make sure the guns are kept and our economy here in Mindanao is soaring towards real and sustainable progress.

Written by admin · Filed Under Columnists, Rina de Jesus