Islamic insurgency in the Philippines

Islamic insurgency in the Philippines
Part of War on Terror
A member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front training with a light machine gun.
Date Late 1969-Present, conflict grew from 1976 onward Location Philippines Status Ongoing; Abu Sayyaf fighters reduced[1]
Belligerents
Philippines Armed Forces of the Philippines Philippine Army Philippine Navy Philippine Air Force Philippine Marine Corps Philippine National Police Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit Supported by:  United States[2]  United States 1st Special Forces Group[3][4]  Australia[5]	Moro National Liberation Front[6] Moro Islamic Liberation Front Abu Sayyaf Rajah Sulaiman Movement Jemaah Islamiyah al-Khobar[7]
Commanders and leaders
Benigno Aquino III Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Joseph Estrada Corazon Aquino Fidel Ramos Ferdinand Marcos Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin Gen.Ricardo David Gen.Hermogenes Esperon Gen.Roy Cimatu Gen.Angelo Reyes	Murad Ibrahim Hashim Salamat Commander Bravo Abu Sabaya (KIA) Khadaffy Janjalani (KIA) Isnilon Totoni Hapilon Nur Misuari
Casualties and losses
572 Filipino soldiers killed (2002-2010)[8] 3 US soldiers killed by hostile fire, 17 dead total(2002-2009)[9] Total casualties (civilian and combatant): est. 160,000 [10]

The Islamic insurgency in the Philippines refers to conflicts between Jihadist rebel groups and the Philippine government and its supporters. Although the rebel organizations themselves existed prior to the 1960s, the insurgency itself began on 1969.^[11]

History

Between the 1960s and 1980s, separatist organizations such as the Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front have emerged, with the conflict rooted in the early 1900s in the Moro Rebellion. These groups are active primarily on the islands of Mindanao, Palawan and the Sulu Archipelago and other neighbouring islands. These groups have been fighting since the 1960s.

In 2000, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada declared an all-out war against the MILF and after intense fighting, 43 minor camps, 13 major camps including the MILF headquarters, and Camp Abu Bakar fell. Hashim Salamat fled the country and sought refuge in Malaysia. On July 10, 2000, President Estrada raised the Philippine flag in Mindanao symbolizing victory. During 2001, the Dos palmas kidnappings occur headed by the Abu Sayyaf group and kidnapped several Americans, particularly Gracia and Martin Burnham. In a rescue mission staged by Philippine troops, Gracia Burnham was freed but Martin Burnham and another hostage died in the rescue attempt, as well as several Filipino soldiers and rebels. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo defended the action of her troops, stressing that "our soldiers did their best to ensure the hostages safety, and I salute them. However, the battle against Abu Sayyaf shall go on".^[12]

Islamist groups such as the Abu Sayyaf and Rajah Sulaiman movement, have been supported by groups outside the Philippines such as Jemaah Islamiyah and Al Qaeda. Since 2001, the Philippine government and the United States have identified this insurgency as part of the War on Terrorism and an American military operation called Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines was established to support the Philippine government to combat the insurgency.^[13]

In January 2011 the Nordic state also joined the International Monitoring Team (IMT) overseeing the ceasefire agreement between the government and MILF on Mindanao.^[14] However, there has still been some confrontations between the government and rebels. On 10 September 2011, Jal Idris, a hardcore member of Abu Sayyaf, was arrested by government forces.^[15] In addition, government troops killed 3 Abu Sayyaf militants on the 11 September in a gun battle in Basilan Island that lasted 30 minutes.^[16]

Terrorist incidents

• December 2000: Rizal Day Bombings
• May 2001: Dos Palmas kidnappings
• October 2002: Zamboanga bombing incident
• February 2004: SuperFerry 14 bombing incident
• October 2006: Bombing incidents in Central Mindanao
• July 2007: Basilan beheading incident
• November 2007: Batasang Pambansa bombing
• July 2009: Bombing incidents in Mindanao
• January 2011: 4 merchants and a guide were ambushed and killed by Abu Sayyaf.^[17] Later, 1 government soldier was killed in a clash with insurgents.^[18]
• August 2011: August 2011 Mindanao bombings^[19]
• July 28, 2011: Abu Sayyaf attacked a village in Sulu province, killing 7 Filipino Marines and taking 7 civilians hostage. They later freed 2 of the hostages after a ransom was paid.^[20]
• September 4, 2011: 3 suspected Abu Sayyaf Gunmen abducted a Filipino businesswoman in Southern Philippines.^[21] Government troops freed the hostage on 19 September after killing the 3 gunmen.^[22]

See also

• History of Philippines
• Terrorism in the Philippines
• Extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances in the Philippines
• Moro Rebellion
• North Cotabato Conflict
• Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines

References

1. ^ Abu Sayyaf membership down | Sun.Star
2. ^ US plays quiet role in the Philippines. BBC News. 16:51 GMT, Friday, 28 March 2008.
3. ^ Combat role in Philippines
4. ^ Special Forces mold Philippine Army
5. ^ MR090204- Australian Government Boosts Philippine Capacity to Combat Terrorism and Improve Security - Australian Embassy
6. ^ Revolution in the Philippines. JSTOR. Ivan Molloy. 1985. University of California.
7. ^ Arrested al-Khobar member says gang led by MILF commander - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
8. ^ RP terror campaign cost lives of 11 US, 572 RP soldiers—military
9. ^ "Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq, Fatalities". iCasualties. 30 August, 2011. http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/Fatalities.aspx. Retrieved 30 August, 2011.  (Note: apply filter for Country of Death = Philippines)
10. ^ Crisis — Again — for the Philippines' Arroyo, Time Magazine, November 1, 2007, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1678666,00.html, retrieved 2007-12-04 
11. ^ [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moro_National_Liberation_Front Wikipedia article on the Moro National Liberation Front
12. ^ "Gracia's family reunion". CNN. 7 June 2002. http://articles.cnn.com/2002-06-07/world/phil.hostages_1_burnham-family-rescue-attempt-rose-hill-bible-church?_s=PM:asiapcf. 
13. ^ Philippines-Mindanao conflict - At a Glance
14. ^ Schou, Arild: Can the New Philippine President Push the Faltering Peace Process Forward?, NIBR International Blog 18.02.2011
15. ^ "Government Forces Arrest Suspected Abu Sayyaf Hardcore Man". Sunstar. 10 September 2011. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news/2011/09/10/suspected-abu-sayyaf-hardcore-man-falls-178430. 
16. ^ "Filipino Troops kill 3 Gunmen Allied to Abu Sayyaf". Associated Press. 11 September 2011. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/11/3900765/filipino-troops-kill-3-gunmen.html. 
17. ^ "Five killed by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan". http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/298031/five-killed-suspected-abu-sayyaf-bandits-basilan. 
18. ^ "Soldier killed in Basilan clash". http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/provincial/26671-soldier-killed-in-basilan-clash-.html. 
19. ^ Bomb blast on rebel-controlled Philippines island kills 2, wounds 9 - AlertNet
20. ^ "2 kidnapped traders freed in Philippines". The Mindanao Examiner. 28 August 2011. http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20110828060153. 
21. ^ "Gunmen Abduct Filipino Businesswoman in Southern Philippines, Officials Say". Washington Post. 4 September 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/gunmen-abduct-filipino-businesswoman-in-southern-philippines-officials-say/2011/09/05/gIQArRfx2J_story.html. 
22. ^ "Philippine Troops Kill 3 Militants, Rescue Trader". Associated Press. 19 September 2011. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hXh6zPy0RFNagH3DGAIdZ4LJ7LUw?docId=ea08ce74696a46ebacc18bf9a20fbedb. 

External links

• Timeline