Maintaining Momentum Against the Abu Sayyaf

By Zachary Abuza

Yesterday the Philippine Armed Forces (AFP) announced that they had captured an Abu Sayyaf bomber, Alex Kahal, who was implicated in a string of bombings in Zamboanga City in October 2002. A US Special forces personnel was a victim of one of those blasts. He was also responsible for a string of kidnappings, including one American citizen.

In other news on the ASG front, there is an intense military operation in the hills southeast of Cotabato city currently underway. Signals intercepts have located the ASG chieftan, Khadaffy Janjalani and his two lieutenants, Abu Solaiman and Ismail Hapilon in the hills of Taliyan. There are believed to be roughly 30 ASG fighters. 4-6 have been killed.

In response to the recent offensive, the ASG planted 4 small bombs over the weekend. Though no one was killed, the government is concerned about a new wave of attacks in manila. Recently a large cache of ammonium nitrate was seized in Manila.

The current operations are in MILF-controlled territory, an area under the command of the 109th Base Command. Its commander, Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato was always seen as one of the most hard-line MILF commanders, adverse to the ongoing peace process.

Yet the MLF deserve credit for allowing the AFP into the area. Roughly 300 MILF combatants and nearly 2000 dependents have evacuated the area. Yesterday the joint ceasefire committee demarcated the territory, so as to prevent any violation of the ceasefire. Although the Malaysian government has put the peace talks on hold owing to the ongoing political crisis in Manila, the cease fire with the MILF is holding well.

By allowing the AFP into their territory to hunt down the ASG, the MILF are de facto admitting that they had given them sanctuary. Why the change of heart now? For the most part it is pressure from the Malaysians, a snub by Khadaffy Janjalani to the MILF chieftan, Ebrahim el Haj Murad, and for the sake of the peace process.

It is more than likely that some MILF commanders are still harboring the ASG leaders. They come with cash and many see them as their brothers, fellow mujiheddin.

What of the JI members in the area, including senior JI members such as Dulmatin, Umar Patek, Abdulrahman Ayob and others? Don�t expect the MILF to be as cooperative. The ASG are expendable, JI � and through them ties to the international jihadist community - are not.

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