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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippines: Military says 50 foreign terrorists in south |
| 2010-04-17 |
| [ADN Kronos] (AKI) - More than half the foreign terrorists based in the Philippines's southern province of Mindanao had links to the Islamist terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, according to military intelligence. Documents obtained by Adnkronos International (AKI) show that 50 foreign militants have joined local Muslim rebels in their struggle for self-determination in Mindanao. The documents, updated in February 2010, said 28 of the militants had links to Jemaah Islamiyah, the Asian-based Islamist group linked to Al-Qaeda. Many of them were believed to have been integrated in the Islamic community in the central west of the island in the autonomous Muslim region of Mindanao. The military intelligence document said many of these terrorists live under the protection of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (photo), in particular in the so called SKP training camp in Liguasan Marsh. In peace talks conducted with the government in 1997, the group denied any involvement with terrorists. However, the report found more than 24 individuals are suspected of links to other Islamist terrorist groups such as KOMPAK, Darul Islam, Laskar Jundullah, and Indonesian Laskar Jihad - which has been linked to violent attacks on Christians - and Kumpulan Mujahidin, which is committed to the creation of an Islamic state in Malaysia. At least 18 members of this group were reported to be in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, while the others were in Sulu, the island in the south of Mindanao, considered the stronghold of another Muslim separatist group, Abu Sayyaf. The MILF is the largest of four Muslim separatist groups in Mindanao, and Abu Sayyaf is understood to have links with Al-Qaeda. Jemaah Islamiyah is held responsible for Indonesia's deadliest terror attack, the 2002 Bali bombings, and was added the United Nations' list of terrorist organisations linked to Al-Qaeda or the Taliban the same year. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 Great summary 49 Pan. It applies to both state sponsors and sponsors who want to be states. It's also the reason attacking terrorist groups is futile. Attacks the states/groups and annex the land. Make the other states who are considering/sponsoring terrorism watch. |
| Posted by: ed 2010-04-17 17:20 |
| #3 Correct on both counts. The 50 is recent, meaning they are not including the ones that have been there for years or travel in and out on tourist visas. The whole ARMM, MNLF, MILF, Abu Sayyaff seperation is a sham. They are all together and taking direction from Saudi and Lybia. Here is how to look at it from my simple brain's perspective. The ARMM is the political/elected government that interfaces with the Phil government. The MNLF was the group that brokered the peace agreement and suposedly represents the people to the ARMM. The MILF is the conventional fighting force for the MNLF. They have Battalions, companies, regions, etc... They fight as a military unit, wear uniform s and patches. The Abu Sayyaff are the unconventional fighters, terrorists. They are used to kidnap, bomb, hit civil targets and other thing that will enflame the area but allow the MILF and ARMM the ability to deny knowledge or approvals. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2010-04-17 11:25 |
| #2 Saudi funding by any chance? |
| Posted by: Kofi Thinese2517 2010-04-17 08:54 |
| #1 OTHER > seems these 50 or so Terrorists are also described as LEGAL TOURISTS-VISITORS to the Philippines??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-04-17 00:08 |