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| Southeast Asia |
| Murad Ibrahim, 18 others charged in Philippine bombings |
| 2006-10-20 |
| Police in the Philippines have filed charges against 19 senior Muslim leaders, including the head of a militant Islamic group, for a spate of bombings, officials said yesterday. Murad Ibrahim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Milf), was among those charged with the attacks, which killed 12 and injured scores on the southern island of Mindanao last week. Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) bomb-makers Dulmatin and Umar Patek, who are wanted for the 2002 Bali bombing that left over 200 people dead and are believed to be hiding in the southern island of Jolo, are also among those charged. The Milf, which has been waging a separatist rebellion for an Islamic state in Mindanao since 1978, was said to be outraged by the inclusion of its chairman on the charge sheet. Spokesman Eid Kabalu said the military and the Milf were working to have the Murad’s name removed from the list. “It will be corrected, “ he said, adding that there were major mistakes on the list and some of the Milf suspects named were no longer with the group. “We see a third party here out to destroy the image of the Milf,” spokesman Kabalu told reporters. Murad and his colleagues were charged on Tuesday in absentia for plotting the bombing in a southern town which killed seven people and wounded more than 30. Kabalu said the Milf was cooperating with local security forces in hunting a former member, Abdul Basit Usman, who was suspected to have carried out the attack on Makilala town and two other towns on the southern island of Mindanao. “We’re also running after Usman because he’s destroying our name,” he added. Milf peace negotiator Mohaqer Iqbal warned that the inclusion of Murad’s name could imperil peace talks with the government. Government peace negotiator Jesus Dureza also said he was surprised by the development, and did not believe the Milf was behind the attacks. Earlier, regional police director Chief Superintendent German Doria said the charges were based on accounts provided by an informant who said the attacks were sanctioned by the Milf. Security forces initially believed the JI and their local allies, the Abu Sayyaf, carried out the attacks to divert military resources from Jolo island where a massive manhunt is underway for Dulmatin and Patek. The government signed a truce with the Milf in 2001 and later engaged the rebels in negotiations with an aim of signing a final accord this year. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front said the charges against Ebrahim “al haj” Murad and 20 members of the group could break a 2003 truce and hit talks to end nearly 40 years of conflict in the south. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 “We see a third party here out to destroy the image of the Milf,” spokesman Kabalu told reporters. You're doing a fine job without any outside help, Mr. Kabalu. Murad and his colleagues were charged on Tuesday in absentia Darn it! For a moment I thought the Philippinos had finally actually caught someone. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-10-20 08:56 |