Manila–“Malaysia should stay put”. Thus said former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim responding to an appeal by the Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW) for him to assist in the peace talks in Mindanao. Ibrahim’s comments on the reported pullout of the Malaysian contingent in the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao was on MPW’s specific request for him to “help us (MPW) convince your government to please continue to stay on as the leader of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao and to be in general patient with our peace process” . In an exclusive interview with Mindanews yesterday, Ibrahim also said that the quest and accompaniment for peace must be paramount even if there may have been compelling reasons for Kuala Lumpur to think about pulling out as the peace talks continue to drag and some initial agreements on the framework of the talks were reneged.
Manila–“Malaysia should stay put”. Thus said former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim responding to an appeal by the Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW) for him to assist in the peace talks in Mindanao. Ibrahim’s comments on the reported pullout of the Malaysian contingent in the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao was on MPW’s specific request for him to “help us (MPW) convince your government to please continue to stay on as the leader of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao and to be in general patient with our peace process” . In an exclusive interview with Mindanews yesterday, Ibrahim also said that the quest and accompaniment for peace must be paramount even if there may have been compelling reasons for Kuala Lumpur to think about pulling out as the peace talks continue to drag and some initial agreements on the framework of the talks were reneged.
The Mindanao Peaceweavers sent their letter to Ibrahim saying it was awed by what Ibrahim represented and epitomized “not only in your beloved Malaysia but also in this region and the Muslim world in general”. The MPW said that “we understand that it may be very disappointing for Malaysia to facilitate and broker the talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front without seeing any huge strides, but the IMT has definitely contributed to the relative silence of the guns in Mindanao. Trust and harmony among the combatants and more so among the general population could also be attributed to their presence. Leaving the IMT, or even a hint of downsizing your presence has released a deep anxiety among our people. And we know that anxiety can lead to hostilities”.
The Malaysian IMT contingent is set to end its mission in August after it received no invitation from both the Philippine government to extend its tour. The government has meanwhile sought more Libyan presence at the IMT. The Mindanao Peaceweavers in the broadest coalition of civil society peace networks in the island.
Ibrahim was in the country for a private visit but was welcomed like a visiting Head of State in Manila. Ibrahim could become Malaysia’s next Prime Minister anytime as the People’s Justice Party he founded and led by his wife chalked up a hefty number of seats in the recent parliament elections and is reportedly on the verge of forming a government along with defectors from the ruling Barisan coalition which he also once led along with his mentor, former Prime Minister Mahatir Mohammad. Mahatir however sacked him after Ibrahim questioned certain policies related to fiscal reforms prior to the 1997 Asian financial crisis and sent him to jail on sodomy and other graft charges which the courts dismissed after 6 years in detention. Mahatir meanwhile retired from his post and resigned from the ruling party after a row with his successor and incumbent Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Badawi was Mahatir’s choice to replace Ibrahim then and eventually anointed him his successor as well.
Ibrahim told Mindanews that if his party takes over the government, the dynamics will entirely be different thus the approach and role of the Malaysian government in the Mindanao peace process will also be one that is more pro-active and inclusive. Ibrahim said that he would have loved to meet with and listen to leaders of the Mindanao Peaceweavers and civil society in general and offer anything to help achieve peace not only in Mindanao, but apologized that his visit to the country was brief. He promised to do so in the next opportunity. The MPW has meanwhile invited him to come to Mindanao.
Ibrahim arrived in Manila last Thursday to address a colloquium on Islam, Politics and the Prospects for Peace sponsored by the De La Salle Graduate School and the Asian Institute for Democracy. (Download Anwar Ibrahim’s paper here. ) He also took the opportunity to visit his bosom friend and former President Joseph Estrada who hosted a dinner for him last night at his residence in San Juan. Former President Corazon Aquino, who Ibrahim said assisted and comforted his family while he was in detention, was also at the dinner. Estrada has stood by Ibrahim when he was in prison and Ibrahim returned the favor when Estrada was under house arrest. It is their first meeting since both were released. Ibrahim also met last Friday with former President Fidel Ramos, former Speaker Jose de Venecia, Senate President Manny Villar, administration senator Edgardo Angara and other officials from both the current and past administrations and the opposition. Ibrahim was in the country last September to keynote the second assembly of the World Forum for Democratization in Asia (WFDA). The Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), a Davao-based regional advocacy and solidarity organization and Mindanao Peaceweavers’ lead secretariat, organized and hosted the assembly. IID Executive Director Gus Miclat delivered the Peaceweavers letter to Ibrahim.
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