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| Southeast Asia |
| Christians form anti-Islamist vigilante group in Mindanao |
| 2016-01-23 |
| [Gulf Today] A member of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) disclosed that Christians on the island province of Sulu have organized and armed themselves into a vigilante group to defend themselves against militants. Bishop Angelito Lampon of the vicariate of Jolo confirmed the existence of a group called Red Guard Soldiers (RGS) with about 300 armed members in an article published on the CBCP website. He said, "In Jolo, Christians are a minority and RGS members are arming themselves against extremists in Southern Philippines because they are getting increasingly desperate. This is a kind of desperate attempt by these Christians who are being attacked now and then by these armed groups." Lampon didn't elaborate but was apparently referring to the Abu Sayyaf militants who have gained notoriety through a series of kidnaps-for-ransom as well as attacks on civilians in Sulu and Basilan. "If only there’s enough security for them. I think they will not take up arms. But if they feel helpless, I guess it’s their form of self-defense," Lampon added. According to Lampon, the RGS members have vowed to drive away the Abu Sayyaf, as well as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. Meanwhile, a report from senior military officer that the Abu Sayyaf has been recruiting new members in Sulu by offering $60 to each applicant especially in the towns of Kalinggalang, Kaluang, Luuk and Panamao. Reports claim the militants have so far recruited 15 members. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 If you check the map, the Muslim population is down south far away from the looting and corruption in Manila which renders the government rather impotent in dealing with real problems. I blame the Spanish who 'claimed' both the north and south of the archipelago when in fact they only had a tenuous presence in the south. The gullible yanks bought the claim when the took it over as part of the treaty ending the Spanish-American War. The 'troubles' with the Christian nationalists in the north were eventually resolved, but it would take a decade or more (to include a very nasty low intensity war) in dealing with the Moros (Muslims), who's primary economy was slaving and piracy. 50 years after the ACW, people weren't too tolerant of slaving even if the practitioners were Muslims. So the whole mess got bundled together to give the Filipinos this find opportunity to carry on after our departure. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2016-01-23 10:09 |
| #1 the philippines govt foolishly let the southern philippino provinces have sharia in return for a ceasefire what is the matter with them has nobody told them what a hudna is??? |
| Posted by: anon1 2016-01-23 07:07 |