Western Resistance

« Commentary: Useful Idiots Serve Islam | | Tajikistan: Death Of Leader of Central Asia's Only Islamic Party »

August 9, 2006

Philippines: Islamists Clash With Military, 5 Abu Sayyaf Arrested

We reported on July 27 that in Miguandanao, a Muslim region of the large southern island of Mindanao in the Philippines, members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were fighting amongst each other. The fighting then was about land issues, near the town of Guindulungan. The internecine fighting had cost the lives of 10 people.

There had been fighting between MILF members and militias through much of July, with more than 30 people killed. The last incident of MILF/militia conflict in Miguandanao was on July 27, when MILF troops were attacked with mortars in the town of Datu Piang.

The fighting in the region has erupted again, states INQ 7. The clashes began on Tuesday, but not between MILF members themselves, but between MILF and militia supervised by the military. The fighting began in Mamasapano town at 9.30 am local time.

Eid Kabalu, the spokesman for MILF, has said the fighting started because militia supervised by the army had attacked Manggapang village. This village is where MILF have their "105th Base Command." The leader of this base is Jamil Ombra, and his deputy is Sajid Pakila. Police and military have blamed these for fighting, and have demanded their surrender, which MILF will not do.

The fighting did not last long, less than an hour. Kabalu states that MILF will be complaining to the CCCH [Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities].

MILF has been engaged in peace-keeping talks with the Philippines government, which have been brokered by Malaysia. According to Sun Star, the fighting had stopped after the intervention of the Malaysian peace observers. Another town in the Miguandnao region, Shariff Aguak, was also the scene of a brief conflict.

Yesterday there was discussion of the US becoming involved in the peace negotiations, but only if approved by both the MILF and the Arroyo administration.

The Malaysian head of the motitoring team, Pahlawan Soheimi bin Abbas said: "I welcome everybody."

*********************

We also have described that there has been renewed conflict on the island of Jolo, Sulu province, in the southwestern islands. This conflict is between the Islamist terror group, Abu Sayyaf, and the Philippines military. On August 1 the hideout of Abu Sayyaf had been located with the aid of US satellite imaging, and had been bombed. Following the air assault, there was fighting on the ground, around the base at Indanan town on the south of the island.

The US has a military presence on this island, where they are providing counter-terrorism training to Filipino troops, but they are not combatants. We reported on August 3 that the fighting had renewed. Three Abu Sayyaf Islamists had been killed, and eight of their number wounded.

News from INQ 7 and Khaleej Times states that earlier today a pre-dawn firefight took place between Abu Sayyaf militants and the military at the foot of Mount Daho in the south of Jolo.

The military are trying to capture the head of Abu Sayyaf, Khadaffy Janjalani, who has a $10 million bounty on his head from the US rewards for justice. Also being hunted are two important leaders of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terror group, who were taking refuge with Abu Sayyaf leaders in the Liguasan marsh in Mindanao. In November and again in January, the Abu Sayyaf base in the marsh had been bombed, leading to several leading Abu Sayyaf rebels, and also the JI men, to flee to Jolo/Sulu.

Khadaffy Janjalani and four other Abu Sayyaf leaders are wanted for the DOs Palmas kidnappings, in which 21 people were kidnapped from a resort by Abu Sayyaf. Three US citizens were among those taken. 40 year old Guillermo Sobrero was decapitated by the gang. 15 other hostages were beheaded. A Kansas missionary couple who were on holiday when taken hostage, were captives until June 7, 2002. An attempt to rescue them went badly wrong. Gracia Burnham was injured, but survived to be freed, but her husband Martin Burnham was killed.

The two JI fugitives are Dulmatin and Umar Patek who were behind the plot to bomb Bali island in October 2002. In the bombings thee, 202 people had been killed. Under the US Rewards for Justice scheme, there is a $10 million reward for Dulmatin, and $1 million for Umar Patek.

In the fighting today, which only lasted from 4.30 am to 5 am, five members of Abu Sayyaf were captured. Also retrieved with them were an M16 rifle and .45 caliber pistol. The names of the five arrested individuals have not been released, lest it compromise the military operations in the area.

There was another bout of fighting today in the village of Kagay in the vicinity of Indanan town at around 8 a.m.

Elsewhere, there is concern in the Philippines that following the Lebanon conflict and an upsurge of anti-Israeli feeling, the Israeli Embassy in Makati City near Manila and synagogues have tightened their security, states Gulf Times. Yesterday there was an anti-Israel protest, which was attended in the main by Muslims from Mindanao island. Mindanao is home to 5 million Muslims, mostly of the Bangsamoro ethnic group.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at August 9, 2006 5:23 PM

Comments

Post a comment