Libya increases ceasefire monitors in Mindanao

            The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya under President and Colonel Muammar Khaddafi has increased their membership to the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) from four to nine, a report reaching Maradika recently.

            The new Libyan IMT contingent members are Navy Colonel Guima Marash, Salah Aburziza, and Jamal Almadhon, both political officers in the Libyan government. They will reinforce their four comrades already serving the various IMT team sites in Mindanao. Two more Libyan monitors will arrive few days from now from Tripoli, Libya to complete their present strength to nine.

            The MILF peace panel received them at its office in Crossing Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Shariff Kabungsuan.

            Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief peace negotiator, headed the MILF host. He was joined in by Atty. Lanang Ali, senior member of the MILF peace panel, and Sheikh Mohammad Muntassir, head of the da’wah department of the MILF.

            The MILF apologized for the modest preparation, saying the information for their coming was only received few hours before they arrived.

            Libya, under Colonel Khaddafi, was one of the few Muslim states that responded to the distress call from the Moros of Mindanao, who were subjected to genocide from 1969 to 1973. Aside from food and medicines, it also sent in one of its top officials in the person of Dr. Ali Treki, Libyan foreign minister, to help determine the situation of the Moros.

            Libya was also suspected to be the source of arms which the early MNLF fighters used to fight off attacks by Ilagas and Philippine Constabulary against defenseless or  isolated Moro communities.

            Early MNLF arsenals included Belgian FAL, Russian made rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and various calibers of machineguns. They also have 60 and 81mm mortars.