Indonesian truce monitors arrive

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – At least 10 Indonesian military officials and five civilian experts arrived in the country yesterday to join the Malaysia-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) that oversees the ceasefire agreement between government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces.

The Indonesian team now joins 40 other IMT members from Malaysia, Brunei, Japan, Libya, and the European Union.

The participation of the Indonesian team in the IMT was reportedly upon the MILF’s request.

It is seen as an effort to bolster the gains of the ceasefire accord, as the government and the MILF cited the absence of armed clashes between government troops and the rebels from January to June this year.