Malaysia Extends Philippine Peacekeeping Mission.

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Malaysia prepares to withdraw ceasefire monitors from the Philippines

This is from Radio Australia. It remains to be seen if the withdrawal will result in renewed fighting. There have always been some incidents but most with Abu Sayyaf supporters.

Malaysia prepares for withdrawal from the Philippines
Updated Thu May 8, 2008 10:30pm AEST
Malaysia's foreign minister says his country's peace monitors in the southern Philippines province of Mindanao will begin a phased withdrawal in two days.Mr Rais Yatim, who is in Manila, says his government is unable to continue the mission.Earlier, he held talks with Philippine President Gloria Arroyo and foreign secretary Alberto Romulo.They have asked Malaysia to continue to support the peace process after the pullout.Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front struck a deal last November to create a Muslim homeland in the country's south but further talks have been unsuccessful.Malaysian troops have made up the bulk of an international team that has been monitoring the ceasefire since 2004.

Philippines hopes Malaysia will continue to mediate with Muslim Separatists

This is from rttn. I know little about this but surely unless the Philippines constitution is changed any agreement would have to be in accord with it. If it were not one would expect a messy legal challenge. Surely, however, a government as corrupt and devious as Arroyo's could find some way around this impasse!

Philippines Hopes Malaysia Will Continue To Mediate With Muslim Separatists []

4/30/2008 4:59:57 AM Despite Malaysia deciding to pull out its truce monitors from Manila, the Philippines government believes that Kuala Lumpur would continue mediating between the Manila government and Muslim rebels to help reach an agreement that would end decades of fighting.

Manila's chief negotiator, Rodolfo Garcia, said on Wednesday that the decision has disappointed the Philippine government but he hoped that Kuala Lumpur would hopefully continue its role as a mediator.

Calling Malaysia "brother Asians," Garcia said he did not think the neighboring country would condemn the peace process to failure, as they are very much concerned about what happens in the region.

Meanwhile, the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front has blamed the Philippine government for the Malaysian monitors' withdrawal and accused the Manila negotiators of dragging their feet in concluding an agreement.

Malaysian-brokered talks hit a roadblock in December when rebel negotiators walked out of a meeting to protest Manila's insistence that any accord should conform to the Philippine Constitution.