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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippines: Al-Qaeda-Linked Groups Undermining Peace Talks With Rebels |
| 2006-05-01 |
| Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf - two of South East Asia's most deadly terrorist organisations - are trying to sabotage peace talks between the Manila government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), claims one of the key players in the negotiations. In an interview in Sultan Kudarat, on the outskirts of Cotabato City, in the MILF's stronghold of Mindanao, the movement's deputy political chairman, Ghadzali Jaafar, told Adnkronos International (AKI) that the two al-Qaeda linked groups are undermining efforts to resolve the problems of his people. "This perception is manifested in several bombings that have taken place in Mindanao recently and supposedly perpetrated by terrorists, in particular Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf. Our reading is that this is their way to protest against the negotiations," Jaafar said. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Filipino government are close to signing a peace deal bringing to an end a conflict that has lasted nearly thirty years and which has cost more than 120,000 lives. The informal talks are expected to resume in May in Malaysia. The MILF has been demanding rights over its "ancestral domain", an area covering most of the southern island of Mindanao. The group agreed a truce with Manila in 2003 but sporadic clashes between militants and Filipino troops have hampered attempts to reach an agreement. Jafaar, who said he is optimistic that the negotiations will continue, argued there was a clear division between the MILF and the two terrorist groups. "First of all, the MILF does not agree with the way they fight. Setting off bombs in the middle of civilians, among women and children, is terrorism" said Jafaar in a very decisive tone, before underlining the religious and ideological differences that separate them. "One point I cannot agree with is their extreme view of Islam, they are too radical. For example, in terms of practicing the religion they want every Muslim to wear a beard. So much so that anyone who does not wear a beard cannot be considered a Muslim," he said. Speaking of Jemaah Islamiyah, whom he said he followed only via the international media, Jaafar said the interest of the MILF "starts and finishes" with the fate of the Bangsamoro, that is the indigenous population of Mindanao. "Our main problem is the problem of the Bangsamoro people. As far as we are concerned there is no point in interfering in a bigger problem" said Jaafar, referring to the political goal of JI, which is fighting to create an Islamic state across South East Asia. The term Bangsamoro comes from bangsa, a Malay word for nation or people, and moro, the Spanish word used for Arabs or Muslims, and refers both to the area claimed by the MILF and in a wider sense to Filipino Muslim people. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 Thats sort of how the world see's them. BTW how was Ratapaloza? |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-05-01 10:27 |
| #2 That's the point. The pinoy are only useful for cannon fodder and laundry service, just like back home in Soddiland. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-05-01 10:20 |
| #1 they want every Muslim to wear a beard. So much so that anyone who does not wear a beard cannot be considered a Muslim Funny since most Filipino's can't grow a beard. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-05-01 09:46 |