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| Southeast Asia |
| MILF bares al-Qaeda plot vs ASEAN |
| 2006-12-11 |
| The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said on Sunday that al-Qaeda-affiliated militants had plotted to disrupt the 12th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Cebu. Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesperson, told the Inquirer by phone that their field commanders monitored the plot, which was hatched by militants active in Mindanao. The ASEAN meet was moved to January next year because of threats from Typhoon Seniang (international code name: Utor) and not because of terror threats, according to Malacañang. But the day before organizers announced the postponement of the Summit, the United States, Britain, Australia and Japan warned of imminent terror attacks in Cebu. Kabalu said the intelligence reports filed by MILF field commanders were not verified but said it was good the summit had been moved to another date so that security could be further tightened. "It was difficult to verify the threat but we monitored it," he said. Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao, police director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), admitted that militants identified with the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya, who are operating in the region, remained capable of launching attacks outside Mindanao. “The Abu Sayyaf and the JI could easily hire somebody to carry out the attacks for them," he said. But he said the ARMM police had not monitored any plot to disrupt the ASEAN Summit. "We have not monitored reports about terror threats to the ASEAN summit. We have direct contacts with the MILF and those with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)," Goltiao said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 On the surface you are correct Shieldwolf. But like most everything in Asia the surface is just good face. The MILF wants no part of being on the list, it will end the million of USAID and World Bank dollars filtering into the MILF in the form of seaweed farm grants and other free dollars that filter back to the MILF. The arms to farms programs are nothing more than a retirement plan for the MILF. Ask USAID how many of the MILF farmers that got grants are over 30 years old, the answer is none. The retired MILF fighters then send parts of their earnings to the MILF in support. All the while the MILF scream AQ and the ASG are not being supported by them. This is crap. the ASG are given safe passage by the MILF as are the AQ. The ASG and AQ, actually JI, are proteted by the MILF as evident by the MILF providing sanctuary and movement for the ASG when they held the Burnhams. The AQ/JI camps are all in MILF territory. Last but not least. The MILF do give up a token member now and again in an effort to gain good press. They allow a mule to be part of a operation and later let them get arrested. They know nothing of the inner workings of the MILF, JI, or ASG. Key leaders are never caught or turned in. Kaddafi Janjalani or Hapilon are still at large and protected by the MILF. If the MILF were legit about their wanting a Moro homeland and they want the US and the world to take the ARMM serious they would hand over KJ and Hapilon. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-12-11 21:45 |
| #3 MILF is trying to position itself as the "responsible Muslim alternative" in the PI. That is why they are ratting out the Al-Q boyz. Also, MILF does NOT want the formal US Known Terrorist Organization designation put on it, they have been pushing the idea that they are an insurgent group and not terrorists. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2006-12-11 14:17 |
| #2 This headline is misleading. When I saw "MILF Bares" my mind thought the story was about some sexy 30-something actress posing in Playboy. Let's see more of that. |
| Posted by: Tibor 2006-12-11 13:17 |
| #1 Cebu is a wonderful coastal city with great diving and hotels. Unfortunately half the city is infested with NPA and the other is infested with MILF/ASG. The ferry bombing originated from Cebu and it took a while to figure out if the Abu Sayyaff did it or the NPA did it to make them look bad. Hosting the ASEAN summit there is a dumb idea, but not surprising. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-12-11 08:54 |