| August 31, 2005: Police are circulating pictures of six men believed to be members of Jema'ah Islamiyah (JI) and the Abu Sayyaf Group, and planning a series of terrorist attacks in Filipino cities. Captured documents also indicate that JI and Abu Sayyaf are unhappy with the MILF, which is negotiating a peace deal with the government. The Filipino terrorists are still receiving financial support from Middle Eastern donors, but are having problems recruiting locals to actually carry out the attacks. The government offers rewards for tips, and Moslems in the south are willing to take the money. In addition, there are many Christians living in the south, who are eager to assist operations against Islamic terrorists. But despite all this, the Islamic terrorists have managed to set off several bombs this year. These tended to be low power devices, causing few deaths, and light injuries. U.S. assistance to the Filipino counter-terror effort added up to $265.7 million between 2001-4. The amount is believed to have increased this year. |