Jihad Watch Philippines

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‘Slain’ JI leader Dulmatin still alive – Marine chief

GMANews 02/09/2010

Dulmatin, a senior leader of the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah who the military claimed to have killed two years ago, is still alive based on “latest reports,” a ranking military official said on Tuesday.

Abu Sayyaf member nabbed in Basilan

INQUIRER.net By Abigail Kwok 02/09/2010

MANILA, Philippines—A member of the extremist group Abu Sayyaf has been captured by authorities in Basilan province, the provincial police chief said on Tuesday.

GRP-MILF talks resuming? Good, but…

Manila Times 02/03/10

WHEN the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) panel walked out of the negotiations last week, it looked to us like what we thought the separatist rebels really wanted had happened. The MILF leadership—like the communist leaders and their National Democratic Front allies—would most likely rather deal with the new national officials of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) after the May 10 elections than continue dealing the Arroyo administration.

The MILF statement after the break-up of the talks last week said, the GRP “had nothing new to offer,” which is why they had decided to end the latest round of negotiations. They were probably thinking that any newly elected president and his new set of Cabinet members and peace panelists would probably have new inputs to present. But they could be making a big mistake.

What if former President Erap Estrada becomes the new occupant of Malacañang? And what if, as he did when he was president (and he hints he would do so again if he is elected in May), declares all-out war on the MILF? President Erap it was who captured all the MILF camps. It was the near-success of his all-out war that made it possible, after his ouster, for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to be hailed by the Muslims as “the new peace president” willing to resume peace negotiations with the badly wounded MILF leadership and army.

read in full…

Guv calls for peoples’ support vs kidnappers

Sun Star 01/30/10

BASILAN Governor Jum Akbar called on residents of his province to rally behind the police and military authorities in their campaign against kidnappers. 01/30/10

Abdul Basit Usman: Waziristan’s Filipino Connection

Abdul Basit Usman, a leading Filipino Muslim militant trained in bomb making, was reported killed, along with 11 other militants in a Predator drone strike along the North and South Waziristan border on January 14 (The News International [Karachi], January 22). 01/29/10

3 explosions hit Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / January 29, 2010) – Philippine authorities on Friday stepped up security following three small explosions in the southern port city of Zamboanga previously bombed by al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf militants. 01/29/10

Land mine blast wounds 7 soldiers in N. Cotabato

MAKILALA, Philippines (AP) – Police say a land mine has exploded and wounded at least one army officer and six soldiers in the restive southern Philippines. 12/27/10

US State department issues travel warning to Mindanao 01/20/10

Abu Sayyaf Resurgent in the Philippines 01/14/10

Terror suspect from Mindanao arrested in Singapore 01/14/2010

Nabbed Abu Sayyaf member now under Zamboanga City police

MILF leadership has no control of its ground commanders 01/08/2010

Another kidnap victim freed in Basilan; family pays ransom 01/06/2010

Moro Islamic Liberation Front kills navy commandos in clash 12/30/09

Attempt to bomb power pylon in N. Cotabato foiled 12/30/09 @ GMA

Education Secretary pushes for stiffer penalties for kidnappers of educators, students 12/29/09 @ Zamboanga times

3 killed in Lanao Sur ambuscades 12/29/08 @ Inquirer

Guv orders probe on Basilan school exec’s kidnapping 12/27/09 Sun star-(Abu Sayyaf may not be the kidnappers. So from who did the MILF “rescued” him from… hehehe)

MILF rescues kidnapped college vice president in Basilan province 12/25/09 @ ZamboangaNews

photo below is via @PacificCommand

2 IEDs explode at Jolo school; no one hurt 12/21/09 GMA News

Abductors release 3 hostages 12/20/09 @ Mb.com.ph

No respite for troops hunting down bandits, rogue guerrillas 12/20/09 Business Mirror

Pics below are via @JSOTFP

JSOTF-P, AFP, Local Governments Build Area Coordination Centers 12/18/09 @ US Pacific Command

Hopes high as Muslims celebrate Islamic New Year

BusinessWorld 12/18/09

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Muslims in Mindanao, including Moro rebels, are hoping for a peaceful southern Philippines as they celebrate Islamic New Year on Friday. Called the Amun Jadid, or Al-Hijra, the first day of the month of Muharram, which is the first month of the lunar Hijrah calendar, Muslim inhabitants here welcome the day with the traditional early morning prayers in mosques. Scenes of thanksgiving activities were also visible in Muslim dominated villages. Amun Jadid reminds mankind of the Hiraj, or migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. “We hope for a better year ahead. Better relationships and… that the violence in Mindanao will end,” said Mr. Ali T. Yacub, one of the conveners of the Interreligious Solidarity Movement for Peace based in this city. “While the Ampatuan town incident on Nov. 23 almost destroyed all hope for goodness to happen in the poorest region in my homeland in ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), it was a chance for like-minded Filipinos and human rights activists to band together to denounce mass killings of media workers and women here and the type of irresponsible leadership that nurtures such violence,” Samira Gutoc, former editor of The Moro Times, and convenor of the Young Moro Professionals Network, told BusinessWorld in an e-mail. “Amidst the Mindanao peace and conflict issues, we still have the highest hopes that peace and dialogue are the ultimate ways for the development in our island,” said Aldrin B. Abdurahim, youth coordinator and community organizer of Peace Advocates Zamboanga. For the largest Moro rebels in Mindanao, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said the new year will usher new hopes in the southern peace talks.

“Hopefully, this year is better than last year, particularly on the southern peace process. We hope to forge a final peace agreement with the government,” said Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator.

Both parties are expected to resume their second round of talks in Kuala Lumpur in January to discuss the drafts of the would-be comprehensive pact. The government and MILF peace panels said they hope to sign the peace agreement within the term of President Arroyo. — Darwin T. Wee

MILF summons commander in Basilan jailbreak

“This arrest of Brother Laksaw is a serious violation of the ceasefire accord between the government and MILF,” the MILF said but did not elaborate. The group described Asnawi as the second highest ranking military official of the MILF in Basilan. 12/15/09 @ GMA

MILF OKs IMT probe on ‘rogue’ commanders 12/13/09

Abu demands first tranche of ransom for college exec 12/12/09 @Inquirer

Troops clash anew with Sayyaf in Sulu 12/11/09 @PhilSouth Angle

US envoy to inaugurate Jolo upgraded water system 12/11/09 @ Sun Star Zamboanga

Marines kill Abu Sayyaf bandit in Sulu @ Abs-Cbn News 12/11/09

Biazon wants to probe transformation CVOs, CAFGUs in private armies @ ZamboangaNews 12/11/09

Kidnappers transfer Capili, the grandson of former Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte mayor Belchu Uy to Basilan  Sun Star 12/08/09

Gunmen in massacre seek MILF help—military 12/07/09

1 killed, 12 hurt in Jolo blast inquirer 12/04/09

Parang school teacher abducted in Indanan 12/04/09

SPECIAL REPORT: Kidnapping of catholic missionaries, nothing religious or political 11/22/09 CBCP News

Iran backs Mindanao peace process

Madel E. Sabater

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki yesterday said the Iranian government is willing to help the country achieve peace in conflict-torn Mindanao. more (why am I getting a bad feeling about this)

Opinion

Jakarta Post

Rommel C. Banlaoi , | Wed, 11/18/2009 1:12 PM |

Through serious counterterrorism measures, governments in Southeast Asia have successfully weakened the physical infrastructure of terrorism in the region.

The Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), two major terrorist groups in Southeast Asia, are heavily factionalized and are severely damaged with the death, arrest and neutralization of their key leaders.

Though JI was able to mount the Jakarta bombing in July 2009 while the ASG continues to bomb churches in the Southern Philippines and engages in kidnap-for-ransom activities, security authorities in Southeast Asia have dealt a number of stern blows against the JI and the ASG.

The Mantiqi structure of JI has been dismantled while the original organizational set-up of the ASG has been disrupted.

Some members and key leaders of JI and ASG are currently in jail while others have disengaged or have undergone rehabilitation.

However, there is no reason to be complacent as surviving elements of JI and ASG are still planning future attacks.

Remaining leaders are still engaged in vigorous recruitment activities to lure younger Muslims to join their cause through open and discreet ideological indoctrination as well as vigorous material inducement.

While the threat of terrorism in Southeast Asia has subsided, it has not totally disappeared because there are remnants who are still committed to wreak havoc.

Succeeding leaders of JI and ASG also take advantage of the vulnerability and gullibility of young populations in the countryside in their attempt to find new recruits and replenish lost members.

While police and military operations against terrorist groups in the region have diminished the threat of terrorism, there is a larger challenge to address the underlying conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.

This requires more than military solutions. It needs political, economic and social interventions that governments alone can not accomplish.

In Southeast Asia, countering terrorism has always been mistakenly viewed as the sole responsibility of the government.

The “whole-of-government” approach in counterterrorism now common in the region indicates this government-centered view.

But there is now a growing recognition that civil society organizations (CSOs) have an essential role in counterterrorism, particularly in addressing the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.

While the “whole-of-government” approach is important for the government to fulfill its mandated task in providing peace and order for its citizens, the complexity of problems facing society today requires all stakeholders to take part in the solution.

In short, there is a need for the “whole-of-nation” approach that recognizes the vital role of CSOs in addressing the problem of terrorism.

CSOs in Southeast Asia have been involved in a variety of activities that have tremendous bearing in preventing and combating terrorism in the region.

These CSOs are pursuing pertinent projects that aim to reduce poverty, protect the environment, promote human rights and the rule of law, uphold democratization, pursue good governance, and advocate against the harsh impact of globalization.

Though CSOs in Southeast Asia are not directly involved in counterterrorism operations of their governments, CSOs indirectly contribute to the implementation of Global Counterterrorism Strategy of the United Nations, particularly in addressing the underlying conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.

CSOs in Southeast Asia started to proliferate in the 1980s to promote democratization, uphold human rights and advocate for sustainable development.

CSOs grew bigger in the late 1990s, particularly in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, to rally against the neo-liberal model of economic development in Southeast Asia.

At present, CSOs in Southeast Asia have formed regional coalitions and networks, which led to the transnationalization of their programs and activities.

There are three types of CSOs in Southeast Asia: community-based CSOs, nationally-oriented CSOs and regionally-oriented CSOs. These three types of CSOs have complex of web of linkages and interrelationships as they work together on a variety of converging issues to synergize their efforts.

Based on various sources of current estimates, there are at least 5,000 nationally registered CSOs in Singapore, 15,000 in Malaysia, 20,000 in Thailand, 70,000 in Indonesia and 80,000 in the Philippines.

The number of regionally-oriented CSOs in Southeast Asia is not yet determined but based on the register of ASEAN affiliated-CSOs, there are 58 regionally-oriented CSOs carrying a wide-range of activities from bankers association, sports club, musicians groups and other professional associations.

In the area of counterterrorism in Southeast Asia, there is a great deal of effort to harmonize state and civil society efforts. Because of existing state-civil society tensions in most Southeast Asian countries, CSOs have become important critics of state-led counterterrorism activities.

CSOs in Southeast Asia are playing the role of “watchdogs” to check the excesses of states in countering terrorism in the region.

At the same time, some CSOs are in the government’s “watch lists” for having been suspected of providing legal cover or protection for some personalities accused of crimes associated with terrorism.

This article is published in conjunction with the international workshop on terrorism which will be held by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation in Jakarta on Nov. 18 – 19, 2009. The writer is the executive director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research (PIPVTR), a nongovernment academic research organization in the Philippines engaged in policy development.

Raps filed vs Sinnott’s kidnappers 11/14/09 Sun Star

Military official dares “peace advocates” 11/13/09 Sun Star

THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AND THE MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT SELECT THE ASIA FOUNDATION FOR INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP 11/13/09  The Asia Foundation

Clinton to gov’t on MILF talks: Strike while iron is hot 11/12/09 Inquirer

MILF invites Hillary Clinton to Mindanao

Speak Out: A statement on the beheading of Patikul, Sulu school principal Gabriel Canizares 11/11/09

MILF chief, wanted in killing of 14 Marines, brought to court today 11/10/09

MILF Propaganda on youtube

Question is, what causes to went down to Kulambugan, Kauswagan that costal area on August 18 war encounter?

Commander Bravo: Praise be to God, that is a nice question!

What really causes us is our obligation to God to fight for His cause; But on that particular incident, the cause is all about the MOA. Through these three rulers, may God Curse them, the Mayor of Iligan, Governor Pinol, and Lobregat. They are the main reason. It is because of their barring the peace process here in Mindanao especially here in Lanao del Norte. So we, in 102nd base command made an initiative and went to those areas. more

46 NPA, MILF rebels surrender 11/08/09

Mapping the Al-Qaeda Linkages in South-East Asia: How Real is the Threat? Mainstream Weekly

Thousands join peace-keeping volunteer group that will help authorities protect villages from terrorist attacks Sun Star

US State Dept Backgrounds Notes: Philippines

6 November 2009

Religions (based on 2000 census): Roman Catholic 80.9%, Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1%. more ( only 5% of the population are Mulims and yet the country is suppose to cede territory to them. Duh!)

MILF leader seeking Libya aid on Sinnott Mb.com.ph 11/06/09

Military records: 10 bombings per month since January in Mindanao 11/04/09 Inquirer

Reflections on kidnappings past and present  11/04/09

Eid’l Adha falls on Peace Week; Malacanang declares two-day holiday here 11/02/09

‘Abu Jayad’ a cover-up for real priest kidnappers here 11/01/09

GRP, MILF kick off 3rd special meet in Malaysia

to discuss protection of non-combatants

By EDD K. USMAN

October 27, 2009, 7:05pm

For their 3rd Special Meeting in four months, negotiators of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) kicked off their talks Tuesday, October 27, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the protection of non-combatants in conflict-affected areas (CAAs) in a bid to move the Mindanao peace process forward. more

Following on that story below 2 clans signs peace here 10/27/09

General Dolorfino said the troops were ordered to protect the innocent civilians who are not involved in the fighting aside from putting a stop to the fighting.  I don’t know about these jihaddists….

Troops send to quell violence between 2 Islamist warring factions

GMAnews 10/27/09

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The military’s Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) has sent troops to stop the fighting between two armed political factions in the province of Tawi-Tawi, a military official said Tuesday. more

Blast hits Cathedral in the southern Philippines

Mindanao Examiner Tuesday, October 27, 2009 03:03:39 PM

ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / October 27, 2009) – A grenade exploded Tuesday at the Roman Catholic cathedral in the largely Muslim province of Sulu in the southern Philippines, officials said.  more

Appeasing The terrorists 10/26/09 PIA

The Southern Campaign Inquirer

Rally for Kidnapped Irish priest 10/24/09 here

comment on youtube by

bagobo666 (2 months ago)

30 years of experience in fighting and and you have not learned your lesson. Your government and military does not have a plan to win this war. Yes, your soldiers are veterans fighting a style of campaign that is circa-1950s. We have given you billions of dollars in money and equipment, but a lot of it end up unaccounted for. I know because I have been there many times to help train your brave soldiers. They are good people. Your arrogant, elitist officers are rotten to the core.

By Lt. J. G Theresa Donnelly

Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines Public Affairs

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines – Members of a Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) explosive ordnance disposal task unit joined Philippine National Police (PNP) for a live-fire demonstration of an improvised explosive device (IED) detonation Oct 20. more You can also follow #Pacom here @PacificCommand

Who’s sleeping with the enemy?

Abu Sayyaf, MNLF Join to ambush Marines 10/20/09 Hunt of the Sea Wolves

AFP arrests ASG sub-leader 10/19/09

US diplomats meet with,  Praise Islamic terrorist in Philippines . GMA 10/18/09

BangsaMoro National LIberation Front killed 2 US troops. 10/03/09  (Yep. They are not running out of groups)

Curb in Towns Philippine Islamist take to the Forest. NYT 9/25/09

AMBUSH ON  MARINES  WAS  A  JOINT  MNLF-SAYYAF  OPERATION  09/23/09  AFP

8 Marines killed in Abu Sayyaf ambush in Sulu 9/22/09   GMA

Abu Sayyaf 101 @ Coin Central The Counter Insurgency Journal 09/14/09

MNLF building a new army 08/30/09 FNN

‘We have beheaded your loved one’ Inquirer 8/15/09

Teodoro condemn Abu sayyaf’s use of women and children here 8/14/09 balita

Davao City Muslims on watch vs. terrorists 7/11/09

Islam: Governing under Sharia 03/23/09 CFR

9 Killed in Rebel Attacks in Philippines 12/26/08 NYT

11/10/08 report

Australia’s  report on ASG 11/03/08 Australian Govt

Frontline world: Behind the headlines 2008 here

Zambo Norte to arm civilian volunteers vs MILF 8/20/08 GMA

The Moro Jihad – Moro Islamic Liberation Front 05/98