Post by dustdevil28 on Oct 11, 2005 6:51:33 GMT -8
MILF claims disciplined guerrillas on suspected terror links
First posted 06:12pm (Mla time) Oct 09, 2005
By Jim Gomez
Associated Press
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A MUSLIM rebel group in peace talks with the Philippine government claimed Sunday it suspended two commanders and cut off supplies to 4,000 guerrillas to punish them for suspected ties to a terror group, and for violating a cease-fire.
Such punishment would be some of the first important steps by the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front, or MILF, against members who violate a ban on forging ties with the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah group.
The claim of punishment could not be immediately confirmed.
The MILF's powerful central committee deactivated the rebel front's 105th guerrilla base command for six months starting last April, and indefinitely suspended two of its deputy commanders over allegations that Jemaah Islamiyah militants have been seen roaming in the unit's stronghold, said rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu.
He said the unit remains under suspension.
"The suspicion is that they allow this group to roam around their area without doing anything about
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it," Kabalu said.
The guerrilla command also assaulted an army outpost early this year without MILF leaders' permission, killing several soldiers and provoking a government protest that endangered the existing cease-fire, Kabalu said.
The MILF, which has been fighting for a Muslim homeland in the southern Philippines, has been engaged in Malaysian-brokered peace talks and signed a cease-fire accord with the government.
It has renounced terrorism and denies any links with terrorist groups.
But Philippine security officials accuse the rebels of providing training grounds and sanctuary to Indonesian militants and members of the Abu Sayyaf, a small, brutal Muslim extremist group also associated with al-Qaeda.
As punishment, the deactivated command has not been allowed to undertake any rebel activity nor receive any food and other supplies, Kabalu said. "This is a major decision ... it's not just for show," he said.
The command, which has about 4,000 members, operates in five towns in southern Maguindanao province where the military launched offensives in July to track down and capture Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khaddafy Janjalani and Indonesian militants from Jemaah Islamiyah, Kabalu said.
The rebels have 14 commands in total, all on the southern island of Mindanao.
The MILF has cooperated in the military offensives by helping blockade fleeing militants' suspected routes and withdrawing hundreds of its members from a Maguindanao camp in July to let troops operate and avoid accidental clashes with MILF guerrillas.
The MILF says it also has provided intelligence to the government about the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah.
Philippine security officials say the militants traveling with Janjalani include Dulmatin, who goes by a single name, and Umar Patek. Both are wanted by the Indonesian government for alleged involvement in the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed 202 people.
Washington announced last week a reward of up to 10 million dollars for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of Dulmatin, and offered up to one million dollars for information leading to Patek's capture.
news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=1&story_id=52801
First posted 06:12pm (Mla time) Oct 09, 2005
By Jim Gomez
Associated Press
Subscribe to Breaking News alerts, send ON EXTRA BREAKING to 2207 for Globe, or send EXTRA BREAKING to 386 for Smart.
A MUSLIM rebel group in peace talks with the Philippine government claimed Sunday it suspended two commanders and cut off supplies to 4,000 guerrillas to punish them for suspected ties to a terror group, and for violating a cease-fire.
Such punishment would be some of the first important steps by the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front, or MILF, against members who violate a ban on forging ties with the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah group.
The claim of punishment could not be immediately confirmed.
The MILF's powerful central committee deactivated the rebel front's 105th guerrilla base command for six months starting last April, and indefinitely suspended two of its deputy commanders over allegations that Jemaah Islamiyah militants have been seen roaming in the unit's stronghold, said rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu.
He said the unit remains under suspension.
"The suspicion is that they allow this group to roam around their area without doing anything about
Print this story
Send this story
Write the editor
Reprint this article
View other stories
it," Kabalu said.
The guerrilla command also assaulted an army outpost early this year without MILF leaders' permission, killing several soldiers and provoking a government protest that endangered the existing cease-fire, Kabalu said.
The MILF, which has been fighting for a Muslim homeland in the southern Philippines, has been engaged in Malaysian-brokered peace talks and signed a cease-fire accord with the government.
It has renounced terrorism and denies any links with terrorist groups.
But Philippine security officials accuse the rebels of providing training grounds and sanctuary to Indonesian militants and members of the Abu Sayyaf, a small, brutal Muslim extremist group also associated with al-Qaeda.
As punishment, the deactivated command has not been allowed to undertake any rebel activity nor receive any food and other supplies, Kabalu said. "This is a major decision ... it's not just for show," he said.
The command, which has about 4,000 members, operates in five towns in southern Maguindanao province where the military launched offensives in July to track down and capture Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khaddafy Janjalani and Indonesian militants from Jemaah Islamiyah, Kabalu said.
The rebels have 14 commands in total, all on the southern island of Mindanao.
The MILF has cooperated in the military offensives by helping blockade fleeing militants' suspected routes and withdrawing hundreds of its members from a Maguindanao camp in July to let troops operate and avoid accidental clashes with MILF guerrillas.
The MILF says it also has provided intelligence to the government about the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah.
Philippine security officials say the militants traveling with Janjalani include Dulmatin, who goes by a single name, and Umar Patek. Both are wanted by the Indonesian government for alleged involvement in the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed 202 people.
Washington announced last week a reward of up to 10 million dollars for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of Dulmatin, and offered up to one million dollars for information leading to Patek's capture.
news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=1&story_id=52801
