On August 3, U.S. federal agents arrested Rahmat Abdhir, a 43-year old dual Malaysian national working as a computer engineer in California. In the 16-count indictment, he was charged with providing material support to a designated terrorist, Zulkiflir Abdhir (aka Zulkifli bin Hir or Marwan)—a senior leader of Jemaah Islamiya (JI), currently based in the southern Philippines—and Rahmat’s younger brother (Terrorism Focus, April 3).
Rahmat was in frequent e-mail contact with Zulkifli, and sent him more than $10,000, and also packages of materials, including ammunition clips, two way radios, rifle scopes, uniforms and other equipment.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the indictment was e-mail correspondence between Zulkifli and Rahmat’s brother that sheds some important light on the very complicated dynamics of the ongoing relationship between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), hardline elements within the MILF and JI.
The spate of fighting between the MILF and government forces in June-August puts the relationship into further context.
Malaysian authorities labeled Zulkifli as a leader of the Kumpulan Mujihiddin Malaysia (KMM), although he was really a mid-level JI operative and designated as such by the U.S. government on March 27, 2007. He fled Malaysia to Mindanao in the southern Philippines around August 2003 and was given sanctuary by hardline members of the MILF in the Liguasan Marsh area. He lived for several years in Pikit, under the protection of Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato, the head of the 106th base command, and Wahid Tondok, head of the 109th base command. Following the arrest of another Malaysian national named Zulkifli, who was in charge of JI’s training in the southern Philippines, he became a trainer. With the expulsion of JI’s two senior-most operatives—Dulmatin and Umar Patek—from MILF territory in late 2004, Zulkifli became the lead liaison with the Philippine separatist group.
As the peace process between the MILF and the government became deadlocked in late 2006, the cease-fire started to unravel. There were spates of bombings across Mindanao in September and October 2006, and January, June, July and August 2007. The prime suspect in the bombings was Abdulbasit Usman, whom the government alternatively identified as a member of the MILF or a renegade member of the MILF. The MILF denied that he was currently a member of the organization. Yet, according to Zulkifli, by January 2007 he and Abdulbasit Usman were living under the protection of Wahid Tondok’s men.
There remains many skeptics as to why the MILF would engage in a continued, though low-level, campaign of bombings while it is involved in the peace process. Some blame the violence on lost commands of rogue MILF commanders. Yet, the MILF’s own spokesman, Eid Kabalu, clarified that there is no such thing as a “lost command. Either you are a member or you are outside of the MILF.” The troops in Basilan are clearly within MILF command and control, and the decision to break the cease-fire was a rational choice.
The reality is that the peace process has been stagnant for some time now. The two sides remain bitterly divided over the area to be included in the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity, and the Philippine government was unable to make concessions in the run-up to the May 2007 election. Even following those polls, the formal talks have yet to begin and the window for talks is closing quickly, as the long Ramadan and Christmas months near. It is doubtful that Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be able to get any agreement passed by the congress or even supported by her own government and military. It is no secret that MILF hardliners see the proposed agreement as a sellout of the group’s objectives of an independent homeland and remain concerned that the protracted peace process is dissipating their military readiness.
The MILF were willing to provoke a major encounter in Basilan on July 11, in a joint operation with a large contingent of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) fighters (whose presence they deny) that resulted in the death of 14 Philippine Marines, 10 of whom were beheaded (Philippine Daily Inquirer, August 10). Since then, there has been a steady drumbeat of accusations and threats to return to all-out war. While neither side desires such an outcome, the MILF want to remind the government of the costs that they will inflict should that happen. The increase in bombings and cease-fire violations since 2006 should be analyzed in that context: leverage to force the government back to the negotiating table, and at the same time as an omen of tactics that will be employed should war resume.
The MILF agreed this week to reposition forces on Basilan to allow the Philippine armed forces to continue operations against the ASG, but few expect the MILF to stop giving them sanctuary (Mindanews, August 9). The government must also contend with the fact that the 1996 agreement with the MNLF is starting to come undone, with two different MNLF units in 2007 picking up arms, one of which seems to have joined the ASG in the mountainous hinterland of Jolo. August 9 saw the heaviest fighting against the ASG and MNLF elements in a year, which led to the deaths of over 50, including 26 soldiers (Philippine Daily Inquirer, August 10). President Arroyo ordered her troops to “fight on” and the military announced that it was dispatching another two battalions to Jolo (Reuters, August 10).
With three distinct rebel groups and factions thereof, a weak central government and an armed forces unable to solidly defeat the rebels, the prospects for a durable peace in the southern Philippines look dim.
I stumbled upon this interesting videos on the ongoing conflict in Mindanao which aptly says the Philippine teeters on the brink of war.
http://article.wn.com/view/2007/08/16/Philippines_teeters_on_brink_of_total_war/
Ellen,
Thanks for reproducing the whole article which I linked to, in blog entry #1479: “Trillanes: Govt execs led Marines to death trap” I thought I would have drawn reactins from a few revelations stated therein.
Since there was none, I’ll do it myself. It was from this article that I realized why all of a sudden, Esperon made a complete 180-degree from earlier stand against all-out war.
When the Americans arrested Rahmat Abdhir, the local puppets saw an opportunity to snug up to Papa George’s bottomhole and pretend they weren’t giving up the hunt for US-listed terrorists hiding in ARMM. The patroness, the one who claims to be W’s most vigorous partner against terror, cannot be seen as “natutulog sa pansitan”, thus, the massive manhunt must be pursued to its end – like all her kayabangan pronouncements before it.
Also, the itchy triggers of the angered Marines will now see an outlet with which to vent their ire upon. Two birds, one stone.
The US has intercepted emails from Zulfikli and his brother Rahmat before Rahmat’s arrest and it is possible that the Americans have located or have an idea where Zulfikli is. This may also be the reason the US is actively participating in the combat ops, as seen in pics where a US Humvee leads an AFP convoy.
The article also revealed what we were not able to get from the press of even from our Gokusen, that another MNLF faction has joined ASG in the hinterlands of Jolo. Or that Zulfikli, together with MILF bomb expert Abdulbasit Usman, has been involved in the bombings which started the last quarter of 2006.
Which brings to mind, why the hell is Esperon uncomfortable with attacking the MILF, despite the beheadings, and despite its coddling of JI mass-murderers Omar Patek and Dulmatin, and now this Zulfikli which has been added very recently to the US’ Most Wanted? Is Esperon out to make the Misuari-led MNLF faction fall-guys just so Uncle Sam sees our AFP is busy pursuing terrorists when in the meantime, the real ones – the MILF, the ASG, the MNLF faction working with ASG are enjoying their sanctuary?
These questions will remain unanswered until we get AT4 to the Senate and pursue his investigations, especially the sickening mutilation of our poor soldiers.
——-
More on Zulfikli here: http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2373293
The situation in Mindanao as narrated by the above article reminds us of Iraq where there are also several groups eliminating one another. The common denominator is the US-CIA that’s present in both countries.
Tongue,
Ang ganda ng analysis mo. Malinaw na nga kung bakit 180-degree ang baligtad ni Asspweron from his previous stand of no war.
Yeah, agree ako 500% sa sinabi mo, the pretender hit 2 birds in one stone. Wala yatang binabantayan ang EK kung hindi ang mga ganyang opportunities, two steps forward palagi to ensure her kapit to the stolen throne.
Sino kaya ang taga-bantay niya sa mga “butas” na ganyan?
Sana ay i-publish na nila ang mga names ng mga taga-EK at politicians na sangkot sa Tipo-tipo pugutan. Ipinagkanulo nila ang mga sundalo para sa sariling interes, dapat ay double pugot ulo ang kaparusahan, plus samsamin lahat ang nakaw na kayamanan at ibigay sa pamilya ng kanilang mga ipinambalang mga bayaning sundalo.
Gloria, the devil incarnate, is just too willing to make the Philippines a stage for another Bush war on terror in return for a mere tap on the shoulder or for a brief 5 minute phone talk with her kuya-kuyahan!
In fact, the Abu Sayyaf was a CIA creation. They recruited Moro contingent who fought against Soviet occupation army in Afghanistan. There’s a possibility that CIA operatives in Mindanao wants Abu Sayyaf to look strong and revitalized to justify US Special Forces continued presence in the Philippines. The US Navy maybe building permanent naval base in Zamboanga peninsula disguise as Philippine naval base. China is the emerging economic-military power in Asia-Pacific region. The United States wants to protect vital sea lanes in South China Sea. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and ASEAN nations may benefit from US naval protection.
For me this only proves one thing- GMA is only interested sa pagkikitaan niya..money is all she wants..Asar ako noong namention ni Bush na kasama ang Phil. as a place of terroism..May rason pala siya..pero can he not see what is going on? Oh yes, she is the great pretender..pretending to be–to be for the country..We sure need Sen. Trillanes..
Diego, even Osama Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda was a CIA creation. But the worst CIA creation was this evil woman Gloria Arroyo, Mother of all Terrorists.
Goji
Come to think of it, Gloria must yet be the most evil creation of the CIA as you said.
It’s about time Pinoys must act on their own and give all the support we can give Senator Trillanes for our own sakes.
If leaders of our country were good, Mindanao wouldnt’ be a breeding ground for AS. Creation din kasi sila ni Ramos na tameme na dahil nabisto dito sa Ellenville. At pinalago ni Gloria for Bush to pick up!
Chi, re:”Sana ay i-publish na nila ang mga names ng mga taga-EK at politicians na sangkot sa Tipo-tipo pugutan.”
There are actually three names. Those names have been mentioned several times in this blog the past days and weeks in the course of our discussion here of the Basilan and Sulu debacles.
Tongue, thanks for the link. How did you discover it? On my part, it helps put the pieces of the puzzle together. It’s not yet complete but it has helped.
This sentence makes a lot of sense to me:
Is this the reason why the Tipo-tipo tragedy had to happen?
Ellen, my source in the military informed me that many of the soldiers are restless. Something big is about to come…soon.
Got their names, Ellen. Thanks.
Dapat silang isumpa ng buong Kapinuyan, ang kanilang kasalanan ay walang kapatawaran
Hmn, may puntos, Ellen.
TT,
i have to correct yung part mo saying..” The article also revealed what we were not able to get from the press of even from our Gokusen, that another MNLF faction has joined ASG in the hinterlands of Jolo. Or that Zulfikli, together with MILF bomb expert Abdulbasit Usman, has been involved in the bombings which started the last quarter of 2006.”
i don’t deny that my relatives are sympathizers of mnlf, and i have access to mnlf, but saying na may mga mnlf or misuari breakaway group..hindi totoo yun.Kung ang isang member ng mnlf ayaw na niya sa patakaran na pinalalakad o pinatutupad ng grupo may laya siyang umalis, at pag umalis kana di ka na mnlf.
“radulan sahiron” is an mnlf before, pero since nahikayat siya ng abu sayyaf di dahil sa pera kaya siya unang nahikayat kundi ang paglaban sa gobyerno.si radulan ang kahit sino basta kalaban ng gobyerno kakampihan niya, dahil simula magkaisip siya at sinabi nga nya hanggang kaapu-apuhan kalaban ng gobyerno.
Kung may misuari breakaway group ay yung kasama ng 15 council na siyang kaalyado ng kasalukuyang gobyerno, na pinangungunahan ni Congressman ng 1st district ng sulu si Yusuf Jikiri, ang mga yan ang mga walang pusong lider na tinalikuran ang mga taong umaasa sa pinapakipaglaban na maibalik na ang self-determination na matagal na o ayaw ibigay at ipinagkakait ng gobyerno.
At kung meron man nang ambush na mnlf,dahil sa ginawa ng gobyerno na di ang abu sayyaf ang pinuntahan nila kundi ang sampunay na dun ang lugar ni kumander jeili na isang “pioneer” na lider at ginagalang ng mnlf. May napatay ba silang abu dun? wala, dahil walang abu sayyaf dun, mga civilian ang napatay na sinasabi nilang abu sayyaf. mga civilian na nanahimik at mga umaasa lang sa bunga ng niyog para mabuhay, na pati ang kabuhayan nila sinira ng gobyerno, patay na ang ama, wala pang makain ang pamilya dahil pati kabuhayan sinira ng walang pusong gobyerno.
yung kay zulkifli, kung baga sa chess na checkmate ang intel ng pinoy,noon pa alam ng mga puti ang information na yan kaso di sila kikilos hanggat wala silang issue o situation na pedeng paggamitan para maisingit nila ang gusto nila at ang interest nila….di sila naniniwala pag ordinaryong tao lang ang magsasabi sa kanila at dun sila maniniwala sa mga intel na nangbebenta ng kalahi!
Gokusen’s info that the military look for “buyers” for these high-priced JI operatives is appalling.
Since members of the military are not qualfied to claim the price on the heads of these JIs ($10 million for Dulmatin, $5 million for Zulkifli)they sell the info “that would lead to the capture” of these wanted JIs.
Gandang negosyo, ano?
If they finally get Dulmatin or any of the JIs now,does it mean they were finally able to get a buyer? What’s your info, Gokusen?
Nagtataka lang ako..no comment si FVR at si Renato de Villa.
May nagawa ba sila with regard to the Mindanao issues..during their time?
ngayon, nangungumbinse na naman si jikiri na mag sumali sa mga “integrations” para gawing army…kapal niya para ano unang ipapatay sa kalaban..sino ba ang unang mga napatay sa sagupaan di ang mga “integrees” kabilang na dun ang kamag-anak ko…alam ba nila ang damdamin na isang “integree” na humaharap sa laban sa kapwa muslim? kapatid sa kapatid magkalaban? sinusukat ba talaga ng gobyerno ang lalim ng kapatiran ng mga muslim? or the govt just adding insult to injuries…na porket muslim ang kalaban dapat din itapat ang buhay ng kapwa muslim dahil di kinikilala ang mga karapatan na dapat bigyan pansin ng gobyerno? Na ang iba namang mga kapatid na muslim na dahil lang sa pera ay nasisilaw para ibenta ang kapwa muslim?
Ms. Ellen,
tatlo lang naman alam namin buyer eh? phil. govt, us. govt. and the al qaeda ay kulang pa CIA nga pala dahil creation sila ng CIA
so the highest bidder …. siya yung big buyer !
kung di lang takot ang mga tao sa amin at karamihan marunong makipagusap ng tagalog..maraming lalabas para magsabi ng katotohanan…ewan na lang kung ano ang gawin ng gobyerno at ng mga kasabwat nila!
tita rose,
di sila magsasalita…may duct tape sa bibig..dahil pag-nagsalita sila babalik sa kanila yung sinabi at sinalita nila..
maternal relatives of fvr are the “well known” valdez of siyasi, sulu….kung saan nandun ang mga unang nagtatag ng abu..at dun din ang baranggay captain noon na si “morfi” na ginamit ang motor boat sa pagkuha ng mga hostage sa sipadan at dinala sa basilan para sa mga abu bilang hostage keeper!
The number of people displaced in Sulu due to the imminent fighting between government forces and Muslim rebels has doubled to over 11,000, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported Thursday.
In its latest report, NDCC Executive Officer Glenn Rabonza said the number of internally displaced persons already reached 11,682, representing 2,722 families from 15 barangays (villages) in Sulu.
The affected people are from seven villages in Indanan town (1,474 families/6,508 persons); five villages in Parang (856 families/3,854 people) and three villages in Maimbung (392 families/1,320 people).
Two evacuation centers were set up in Indanan and three were established in Parang, the NDCC report said.
– – – –
sa palagay ng govt magkakasya ang ganoong dami ng bilang sa 5 evacuation centers…doon ang pumupunta sa evacuation centers yung malalapit lang ang nilikasan..ang di nakikita ng govt ay yung mga nagsisilakas sa malalayong liblib na lugar na di naabot ng anumang tulong mula sa gobyerno
pumapapel ang MILF upang masabi na sila ay dapat na legal na kilalanin ng gobyerno ni gloria. pinalalabas ng pamunuan ng magugulong ito na sila ay tunay na kakampi ng pamahalaan.
hayan at lumabas na! meron na ngang kakampi ang ahas na namamahay sa loob ng malakanyang. mabibigyang katwiran lalo ang human rights suppression act na piangtibay kamakailan lamang.
katulad din ni gloria, walang hindi gagawin ang MILF upang sila ay mangibabaw sukdulang ipakatay nila ang kanilang kapwa muslim at magtagumpay na maibigay sa kanila ang pamamahala sa buong mindanao. kapag nagkagayon, lalong walang katapusang kaguluhan!
Sino ba ang sinabi ni unanong bibigyan niya ng ancestral domain?
yuko,
milf ang bibigyan ni gma ng ancestral domain…yung ang regalo niya sa mga milf sa pagtulong sa kanyang matupad ang panibagong gulo sa mindanao..ang mga kamoteng milf ang ginamit niyang kamay sa kaguluhan..
Our peoples cannot mix. Its oil and water all along. Money cant do anything, not even with uncle sam’s. so where do we go? Trouble always.
“Our peoples cannot mix.”
valdemar,
hindi ako naniniwala. nasa rao lamang ‘yan. kailangan lamang ang paggalang, pagkilala at pag-unawa sa kapwa. kung ano ayaw mong gawin sa iyo, huwag mong gagawin sa kapwa mo.
igalang mo siya, igagalang ka niya. ganyan lang naman. hindi katwiran ‘yung komo muslim ay hindi na maaaring pakisamahan at makisama sa kristiyano.
nasubukan ko na. i have already established roots in jolo. i know and respect their culture, beliefs and tradition.
1000% na patutunayan ko sa iyo, kapag naging kaibigan mo sila, kilala kang mabuting tao, walang inaabuso’t inaagrabyado, kahit disoras ng gabi ka gumala sa lugar nila, walang gagalaw sa iyo.
“nasa TAO lamang ‘yan.”
sori, bulol ang daliri kong nirarayuma’t naninigas.
Valdemar,
what do you mean by Our peoples cannot mix. Its oil and water all along? kailangan bang magtapakan at magkaraoon ng wall sa pagitan ng magkaibang paniniwala?
Ang alam namin yung “oil” na ginagamit sa manila, sa mga coprahan kinukuha at maraming source ng copra sa Mindanao..at ang “water” sa amin fresh galing sa bukal na di na namin kailangan pang bumili ng mineral water na di pede sa manila na kailangan bibili ka ng mineral water para sigurado kang malinis ang iinumin mo….anyway..thanks!
Ellen,
few nights ago, while I was cracking my skull trying to remember the name of the arrested terrorist in the US which was first flashed on Bloomberg some nights earlier so that I can carry a discussion with gokusen, I overheard Studio 23 news mention Zulfikli with Maria Ressa herself filing and reading the report. The expert no less. I started to google with different spellings of “Zulfikli” as I heard it but it never came out right until I got the correct spelling while crawling Yahoo.
Yes, you’re spot on, it doesn’t give us the whole picture BUT it helps put the pieces of the puzzle together. It need a Sonny Trillanes, with his wealth of info, to slip in the final pieces together.
One big issue that makes my head spin is still: why Esperon can consider MILF a “friend and ally” and let them go scot-free after coddling terrorists, doing terror acts itself, and breaking the peace agreement by shooting (and beheading) innocent foot soldiers who happen to stray in their backyard.
Is MILF a sacred cow? If you know what I mean. MILF in fact has been guarding the biggest plantations of US food giant Castle and Cooke – the Dole farms in Polomolok, S. Cotabato.
Are they there to ensure Mindanao remains unstable enough so that no outsider can prosper except those powerful clans and business groups who control the ARMM provinces?
Are they there so that the Tripoli Agreement, a standing treaty, cannot be implemented cuz its signatory, Nur Misuari, has been effectively marginalized in the eyes of the international community, aside from, as Gokusen says, the OIC?
Are they there so that as they “burn” the tired MILF, by way of a new peace accord, treaty, or whatever, a new breakaway group springs and continue their secessionist struggle?
Is Mindanao really Philippine Territory? Or does it belong to the Muslim nations? Or the US?
Will it ever end?
TT,
as far as i know…everything is connected in muslim right wing..and kung isa-isahin ko sa ngayon mejo magugulo yung di nakakasunod sa flow ng blog.
MNLF is not into muslim right wing, but the 15 councils eh mejo utak muslim right wing! Mindanao, still part of the Philippines. US is aiming to put up the “dream base” in Gen. San so kung mejo sinusundan mo ang “current events” madalas ang bombahan sa part na yun sa mainland mindanao.
Hence, when the right wing found out na there are more natural resources in sulu archipelago mejo dun naman sila nag-concentrate ng gulo.
Maria Ressa report on 9/11 is documented hence there are some missing points on it and i’m looking on it why she never mentioned the things about muslim right wing which if you base on reports cia has to do with it as well as the creation of osama bin laden al qaueda. Di yun basta na lang susulpot na parang kabuti sa mindanao ng ganun-ganun na lang, ig if you will research about dun sa mga “counterfeit dollars as well as bank notes na napunta dito..you could have then an idea..especially the bombing in hotel in davao na kung saan si michael meiring mismo ang sabi aksidente na nag blast yung bomb sa loob ng hotel room niya…
but anyway, isa-isahin ko yan some other time…at this time dun muna ko sa drama sa basilan at sulu..!
TT,
by the way, there is “uranium” in sulu archipelago, at yung oil sa dagat eh ibang klase! there is an american oil company digging it..at ang mga bulubundukin ay nababalot ng “alkaline”..bukod pa sa carbon na ang ilalim ay “diamond”…sino ang di magkakainterest?
Alam mo one thing i learned reading marcos’ history is yung, tayo daw maraming likas na kayamanan, pero ayaw daw ng mga amerikano na tayo ang magyaman sa likas na kayamanan, kundi sila ang kukuha ng likas na yaman at dadalhin sa kanilang lugar at kapag finished product na saka ibabalik sa atin…
in other words ayaw nila tayong mabuhay sa sarili nating sikap gusto nila nakadepende tayo sa kanila habang buhay, habang tayo naman ay nagpapaalipin sa western culture..! ultimo nata de coco natin iba ang may “patent”..
Gokusen,
Noong ako ay nasa Sulu, merong nakapagsabi na ang seashores kapag hinukay ay puting gas/oil ang lumalabas. Gayun din daw sa Sabah at Borneo.
Meron kaming kaibigan nuon na brother-in-law ni Sultan Kiram na siyang nagpakita sa amin ng matandang Sabah documents. Pero saka na lang natin pag-usapan iyan, pag nagkita tayo ng personal.