Posted on 10/17/2005 12:41:27 AM PDT by Fair Go
Australia to tackle JI on Mindanao From correspondents in Zamboanga 17oct05
AUSTRALIA and the Philippines are to expand security cooperation amid concern over Islamic militants on the island of Mindanao, Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill said today.
Both countries will boost intelligence exchanges and maritime surveillance, focusing on the infiltration of Jemaah Islamiah (JI) militants into Mindanao, Mr Hill said during a visit to this southern port. Hill met with Lieutenant General Edilberto Adan, chief of the Philippine military's southern command, and said there could also be "further training and support for special forces, particularly in long-range reconnaissance work".
He did not give specific details. The United States maintains a team of Special Forces advisers to train Filipino soldiers on Mindanao and nearby islands.
"We are worried about the possible infiltration of JI in the region who work (their way) into the southern Philippines," Hill said. "The group is a threat to the whole region including to ourselves (Australians)."
Australia has been actively helping governments in the region track down members and leaders of JI, which has been blamed for this month's bomb attacks in Bali that left 20 people dead.
It has also been blamed for the October 2002 bomb attacks also in the Indonesian resort island that killed 202 people, 88 of them Australians.
Regional intelligence officials as well as the US government believe that two JI bombers wanted for the Bali bombings are hiding out in Mindanao. A $A14.45 million bounty has been offered by the US government for their capture.
The JI operatives are believed being aided by members of the Abu Sayyaf, a local militant group blamed for a spate of high-profile kidnappings and the country's worst bomb attacks.
Today, a soldier was killed and four others wounded in a raid against Abu Sayyaf militants near the island of Sacol off Zamboanga just hours before Hill arrived.
The casualties were all members of the Philippine military intelligence command who took part in the raid.
This is just fine as long as they get it done and get JI and Abu Sayyaf dead.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/878095/posts
Jemaah Islamiah- Islamic Community, or Islamic Threat?
variuos websites | 03-28-03 | The Heavy Equipment Guy
Old but informative.. Australia, led by PM Howard is indeed a great ally on fighting terrorism..
You got that right...
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