Bomb in Mindanao Challenges Elections, Peace Process

By Zachary Abuza

An improvised explosive device planted at a market in the southern Philippine city of Tacurong, killing at least five and wounding 13. The blast happened six days before the 14 May national elections; the outcome of which will have a profound impact on the government’s peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Tacurong City is in Sultan Kudarat province, much of which the MILF is demanding as part of their ancestral domain, though the vast majority of the population are Christians. Hardline elements of the MILF have engaged in similar bombings in the past few years to spoil the peace process and challenge the more moderate leadership that is engaged in talks with Manila. The primary suspect of the bombing is Abdulbasit Usman, an MILF member who was trained by members of Jemaah Islamiyah. He has close ties to the top JI leadership in Mindanao, the Bali bombers, Dulmatin and Umar Patek, as well as to the Abu Sayyaf, who are all against the MILF’s peace process. The MILF, unsurprisingly, have denied any involvement in the bombing.

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