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| Southeast Asia |
| MILF, Abu Sayyaf make peace impossible in Mindanao |
| 2006-01-17 |
| Peace remains an elusive target on southern Mindanao island where violence is an everyday occurrence and the line between revolutionary movement and jehadi terrorism hard to discern. A central government delegation and a team of the moderate Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are soon to meet in Malaysia to talk peace in the seventh exploratory meeting, since formal peace talks were halted following former president Joseph Estrada's all out war in 2000. The latest round of talks are based on a fragile truce signed on Jul.19, 2003 between the government and the MILF, which has for four decades fought for an Islamic homeland in the impoverished southern part of the archipelago, resulting in more than 120,000 deaths. A 12,000 strong group, the MILF is the biggest of several Islamist groups on Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago -- the only areas left where the country's four million Muslims are still in a majority. Once inhabited exclusively by Muslims and animists, Mindanao -- the country's second largest island -- is today home to mostly Catholics as a consequence of a government- sponsored migration from the northern islands of Luzon and Visayas. While the planned talks provide a glimmer of hope for peace, the region is characterised by a blurring between revolutionary groups and terrorist organisations and are taking place in the background of unabated violence throughout 2005. Although the MILF is dominant, a crucial role is played by the small but radical Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) that is linked to the international al-Qaeda network and the South-east Asian jehadi group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). "Abu Sayyaf is the most dangerous of the revolutionary groups present in the country," Philippine national security advisor Norberto Gonzales has been quoted as saying. "Compared to MILF and the New People Army (communist rebels), Abu Sayyaf is the most dangerous because these terrorists even volunteer to conduct attacks to get the recognition of international terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda," Gonzales said. The MILF was the first Islamic group to take up arms in Mindanao in the late 1960s. The simmering communal conflict erupted into civil war after former dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in September 1972. After four years of struggle, the MILF dropped its claim to independence and accepted a form of autonomy under the Tripoli Agreement, signed on Dec. 23, 1976. The Tripoli Agreement, as well as the others that followed up to the 1996 Jakarta Agreement, were never properly implemented. The local population's disappointment has fuelled resentment and led to the mushrooming of more pro-independence Islamic groups. Unlike the MILF, Abu Sayyaf has never been open to dialogue. After a lull, the group has staged a comeback, carving for itself a role as a nexus for disgruntled members of revolutionary groups and the terrorists that have found sanctuary in the forests of the island. "Abu Sayyaf has emerged as a serious security threat to the Philippines, and arguably the regional security. They have forged closer relations with hardliner MILF elements and have proved to be a reliable partner for JI ," writes security expert Zachary Abuza in his report ‘Balik terrorism: the return of the Abu Sayyaf', released in September. During the last 12 months, ASG has been at the core of most of the violence that has rocked the country, including the Valentine's Day attacks when three near simultaneous bombs exploded in Manila, General Santos City and Davao, killing 13 and injuring 140 others. In these attacks, ASG was clearly helped by JI, the organisation deemed responsible for the worst bombings of the last few years, including the one in Bali, Indonesia, where 202 people died on Oct.12, 2002. The United States, which provides military and other aid to the Philippines, has been demanding that Manila do more to prevent Mindanao from serving as a sanctuary for foreign jehadi militants, especially some believed to be responsible for the Bali bombings. ASG was also said to be behind the Aug. 10 and Aug. 29 bombings in Zamboanga City and Basilan respectively, in which more than 50 people were injured. The group has also carried out dozens of small-scale attacks against military and police posts in the region. The deadly mix of JI and Abu Sayyaf has lately been enriched by yet another explosive ingredient -- the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), a radical wing of the Filipino Balik Islam, as those who have abandoned Catholicism to ‘return' to Islam are known. "The ASG and JI are working increasingly with the RSM, militant converts to Islam based in Manila and northern Luzon, who are a vehicle for more experienced terrorist groups to move into the country's urban heartland," reported the well respected think tank International Crisis Group in its December report ‘Philippines Terrorism: The Role of Militant Islamic Converts'. The intertwining of various groups was also highlighted when Abu Sayyaf happened to be at the receiving end of operations undertaken by the Filipino armed forces. Over the last 12 months, Manila launched two massive and sustained attacks in and around the Sulu archipelago, south of Mindanao. In the hostilities, renegade members of the MILF fought alongside Abu Sayyaf. Local reports claimed that at least 120 rebels and 27 soldiers died in weeks of fighting when 4,000 government troops took on 800 Abu Sayyaf -MILF rebels at Jolo in February 2005. Fewer casualties -- four soldiers and 22 rebels dead - were reported in a second offensive, launched in November. Although the MILF has not been involved in the main battles, the organisation can hardly be considered monolithic or fully under the control of its leader Al-Haj Murad. On Jan. 6, 2005, for example, when a faction attacked an army post outside Cotonato city, killing 23 soldiers, the MILF was quick to denounce it and declare the wing as a ‘'lost command.'' The fragile truce survived and representatives of the MILF and the government made the trip to Kuala Lumpur in April and September 2005. At the end of both meetings, the two parties claimed significant progress, although they failed to sign a new peace deal as hoped. In between talks, the MILF showed goodwill by withdrawing 500 fighters from Talayan and Guin-dolongan areas, to facilitate a military offensive against Abu Sayyaf on July 2005. Nonetheless, many in Washington and Manila are convinced that the group plays two cards at the same time--talking peace with the government but harbouring in its territory Abu Sayyaf and Jl as confirmed by Abuza. "Considerable evidence suggests that the MILF continues to coddle JI and ASG members," he said. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #6 Not even there, CrazyFool. Remember the policeman whose body the Muzzies pulled out of the crypt and burned? |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2006-01-17 23:47 |
| #5 Headline should read: Islam make peace impossible everywhere! (except the grave....) |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-01-17 18:37 |
| #4 SF, See how you are, now I went and spit coffee all over my desk and uniform. If it was beer I would really be upset! LOL |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-01-17 15:45 |
| #3 But Islam is a Religion of Peace-n-Harmony-n-Stuff™. It is written! |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-01-17 15:13 |
| #2 BK is right on this one. Mindanao is about 80% Muzzie. The Christians were moved there from Marcos's home provence. He took the land and gave it to Christians in order to breed the problem out of the population hoping the mixing of families would bring peace, and to take care of his families and neighbors. Like almost all land reform it failed and is part of the problem. The Christian side is now influenced by the NPA. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-01-17 14:30 |
| #1 Once inhabited exclusively by Muslims and animists, Mindanao -- the country's second largest island -- is today home to mostly Catholics as a consequence of a government- sponsored migration from the northern islands of Luzon and Visayas. I dont think so... |
| Posted by: bk 2006-01-17 10:52 |