| Hakim Hayat |
BRUNEI Darussalam’s 12th International Monitoring Team (IMT-12) peacekeeping mission to Mindanao in the Philippines returned home safely yesterday after completing a full year of duty, following the departure of the new Brunei IMT-13 team on Thursday.
The returning contingent of six Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and one Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) personnel were received by Commander of the RBAF Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, and Commissioner of RBPF Dato Paduka Seri Haji Mohd Jammy bin Haji Muhd Shah Al-Islam in a ceremony attended also by the families of personnel’s who had been patiently waiting for their return at the Rimba Air Force Base yesterday afternoon.
The RBAF Commander later released the IMT armbands from the seven personnel, officially marking the conclusion of duties in the IMT-12.
The Brunei IMT-12 contingent was led by Lieutenant Colonel Azman bin Haji Bangkol and comprised Major Sheikh Faisal bin Dato Paduka Sheikh Adanan; Major (U) Pengiran Md Farisan bin Pengiran Haji Metassan; Captain Mohd Rushdi bin Haji Awang Yusuf; Assistant Superintendent of Police Awangku Haji Mohd Khairul Anuar bin Pengiran Haji Ahmad; Warrant Officer 1 Zailani bin Haji Kamis; Warrant Officer 1 Pengiran Saini bin Pengiran Haji Jumaat and Warrant Officer 2 Mustapa bin Haji Salleh.
Contingent leader Lieutenant Colonel Azman explained that the majority of their task involved the surveillance of the local area and to advocate the existing ceasefire agreement and peace that is in the process.
He said, though the situation in the conflict-stricken area is generally stable nowadays, it can be quite a challenge to play mediator between two clashing parties. There was also a language barrier as most villagers don’t communicate in English.
He admitted that being away from family members back home also proves to be a challenge, but they are very grateful to have overcome the challenges and successfully completed the mission.
He observed that peace mechanism implemented in 2003 was being adhered to by involved parties.
Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah removing the IMT badge from Brunei IMT-12 Contingent Head Lieutenant Colonel Azman bin Haji Bangkol.
Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, Commissioner of the RBPF Dato Paduka Seri Haji Mohd Jammy bin Haji Muhd Shah Al-Islam, Philippines Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Meynardo LB Montealegre as well as other senior government and defence officials in a group photo with IMT-12. HAKIM HAYAT
“The whole team and I gained a lot of experience especially in executing the mandate of the peace process and monitoring between the Philippines Government and the Moro International Liberation Front (MILF),” Lieutenant Colonel Azman said, adding that he hopes the experience gained will help them become more confident in future endeavours.
Major (U) Pengiran Md Farisan shared that a wealth of experience can be gained from their deployment in the hostile environment, especially on the importance of peace, which he explained, cannot be taken for granted.
“During conflict, parents cannot work and cannot send their children to school. The people also suffer unnecessary loss of life and the country cannot be developed,” he said
Although the primary purpose is not to solve the conflict, Major Pengiran Md Farisan said being a mediator for two clashing parties can be quite a challenge, especially in getting them to trust each other and showing sincerity towards the peace accord.
“As the security component in the IMT, our job at the tactical level is to relay information from the higher leadership that a peace accord is already on its way, which was recently announced by the Philippine president,” he said.
As the implementation phase of the peace process is now ongoing, trust is imperative between the clashing parties because it is the only step before achieving peace, he explained.
Led by Malaysia, the IMT’s primary mission is to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement inked in 2003. Brunei began deploying its contingent under IMT in 2004. Since 2012, the contingent has grown to include members of the RBPF.
The 13th batch of Brunei IMT peacekeepers were deployed recently to continue its mission and support of the ceasefire agreement, as well as in continuing the momentum for the resolution of the conflict in Mindanao, including the socio-economic development aspects of agreements signed between both parties.
Over the years, Brunei has accumulated a great deal of experience when it comes to peace-support operations. Therefore, the deployment of the Brunei IMT as a supporting force in the IMT is historically significant and regarded as an important commitment by the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in continuing its contribution to the peace and security of the neighbouring state and the region as a whole.
Also welcoming the contingent yesterday were Ambassador of the Republic of Philippines to Brunei Darussalam Meynardo LB Montealegre, a representative from the High Commission of Malaysia in Brunei Darussalam, Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force and other senior government and defence officials.
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