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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippines Links Jemaah Leader to 2000 Bombings |
| 2003-06-18 |
| An Indonesian leader of the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah network funded Muslim militants blamed for deadly bomb attacks in Manila in 2000, Philippine prosecutors said on Wednesday. They said they were collecting more evidence to see whether Riduan Isamuddin — also known as Hambali — could be prosecuted over the deaths of more than 20 people in the bombing of a train and other targets in the Philippine capital on December 30, 2000. The allegations coincided with the trials in Indonesia of cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, Jemaah's alleged spiritual head, for treason and of two other Islamic militants over the blasts on the resort island of Bali in October 2002 that killed 202 people. Also on Wednesday, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) — the biggest Muslim rebel group in the Philippines — denied allegations made at Bashir's trial that Jemaah militants trained at its camps on the southern island of Mindanao. Philippine state prosecutor Peter Ong said Hambali's alleged involvement in the Manila bombings was revealed to investigators by self-confessed Jemaah member Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, an Indonesian, and local Muslim militant Hadji Onos, alias Moklis. Al-Ghozi and Moklis, both in Philippine custody, are also being investigated over the attacks in Manila. "We cannot subpoena (Hambali) because we do not know his whereabouts," Ong told reporters. He said the pair had also named a Malaysian, Faiz Abu Bakar Bafana, as one of their financiers. "Based on the sworn statements of al-Ghozi and Moklis, Hambali and Faiz gave financial support to the bombing," he said. Al-Ghozi is serving a 17-year prison term in the Philippines for possession of explosives and falsifying his travel papers. He has admitted in writing to being a member of Jemaah, which intelligence agencies have accused of plotting to bomb Western targets as part of a campaign to establish an Islamic state embracing parts of Southeast Asia. Al-Ghozi and Moklis were manacled and heavily guarded when they were taken to the Department of Justice building for a pre-trial hearing. "Yes, I admit it, even if I die here now," Moklis told prosecutors when asked whether he took part in planning the Manila train attack in 2000. Al-Ghozi was merely asked to sign his name and put his thumbmark on statements he had previously given to police admitting his involvement in the bombings. There was an emotional moment at the hearing when Moklis asked to talk alone with al-Ghozi. The two clasped hands before Moklis broke down and cried. Let them hold hands when they count muzzle blasts. Western intelligence agencies say Jemaah has links to al Qaeda. Singapore and Malaysia have rounded up dozens of alleged Jemaah members. There are also suspicions that the MILF has ties to Jemaah — a charge the Philippine rebels repeatedly deny. A witness at Bashir's trial told a Jakarta court on Tuesday he and other Indonesian militants had trained in handling explosives at an MILF camp in the southern Philippines in 1997 and 1998. "We do not allow Indonesians or any other foreigners to train in our camps," MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu told Reuters by telephone. "Our training camp is exclusively for the MILF and we train our people in guerrilla techniques and not in using explosives." Sure you don't. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #4 2000 bombings?? holy crap!! |
| Posted by: RW 2003-06-18 12:23:47 |
| #3 thought the same thing, Bulldog. The Philippines seem to be taking the terrorism thing seriously for a change |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-06-18 11:28:21 |
| #2 "Philippines Links Jemaah Leader to 2000 Bombings" And how's that for a misleading headline?! |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-06-18 10:54:04 |
| #1 "MILF" Great, so are you telling me that American Pie was a front to promote these guys? |
| Posted by: Paladin_six 2003-06-18 13:39:05 |