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| Southeast Asia |
| Mindanao may be the next Afghanistan |
| 2005-04-11 |
| The United States has expressed concern about militant training activity on Mindanao in the southern Philippines, warning that the rebellion-torn region could become the "next Afghanistan". The number two official at the US embassy in Manila, Joseph Mussomeli, says Mindanao is becoming "the new Mecca for terrorism". Mr Mussomeli has urged the Philippines, a US ally, to do more to stem the flow of Islamic militant recruits into Mindanao. He says recruits train in bomb-making in Mindanao and some have conducted bombing campaigns in the country. "Personally, I'm worried that we're not worried enough," he told SBS television. "I think the real danger here and the danger that has been here since the mid-90s is that we're not focused enough on the threat here." The mission posted the transcript of the interview on its website in Manila. "It's not the sort of threat that [we] should be worried about coming here on a day-to-day basis," Mr Mussomeli said. "The threat is more long-term: that ... certain portions of Mindanao are so lawless, so porous the borders, that you run the risk of it becoming like an Afghanistan situation." Mr Mussomeli said both governments were aware that certain individuals or factions within the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had links with both local and foreign militant groups. Philippines officials concede militant factions within MILF are giving sanctuary and even training facilities to Jemaah Islamiah (JI) and Abu Sayyaf (ASG), both said to have links with Al Qaeda. Mr Mussomeli said Washington had "firm" information that such camps were still up and running on Mindanao. He refused to elaborate. "The threat remains and frankly in some ways it is growing. The number of JI that are there, the links between JI and MILF factions and ASG may even be increasing," he said. Mr Mussomeli denied Washington was trying to derail the peace talks, saying: "We certainly do not believe or at least we don't have clear evidence yet that the MILF as an institution, as an organisation, have links with the JI or ASG." However, he said, "it has to be a genuine peace process and not a farce". "There can't be real peace unless the links with JI and ASG are severed. That's the reality," he said. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #2 The Philippines are facing two problems. One is significant corruption in the military. The second is the leftist faction of the government that pretty much restricts what action, if any, can be taken. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2005-04-11 10:04:46 PM |
| #1 What was the last Afghanistan?... |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-04-11 6:14:29 PM |