Ji Philippines threat 'serious'

The Australian ^ | 22 Oct 2005

[Fair Go]

JI Philippines threat 'serious' From correspondents in Manila, Philippines 22oct05

THE Jemaah Islamiah (JI) extremist group in the southern Philippines poses a serious threat to the entire region, a special US envoy said.

US State Department coordinator for counterterrorism Henry Crumpton also encouraged the Philippine government to pass long delayed counter-terrorism legislation. "The threat is very serious if you look at recent events, the intention of enemy forces, their collaborating with affiliates all around the region ... their technical skills especially in bomb making, their tradecraft skills."

His warning came after the Philippine military said JI was still conducting training in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao where various armed Muslim groups are already operating.

"There is an enormous challenge there, just in the geography. Its not just Mindanao but extends to the Sulawesi Sea ... over to Sabah, Malaysia," Mr Crumpton said.

Jemaah Islamiah has been blamed for a string of attacks in the region including the 2002 and 2005 bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali. It is considered the regional partner of the al-Qaeda Muslim extremist network.

Mr Crumpton also warned that countries in the region had to guard against the possible use of biological and chemical weapons by terrorists.

He also said the United States was very supportive of Manila's efforts to forge a peace accord with the main Muslim separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), despite frequent reports that MILF commanders were sheltering JI members in their camps in the south.

"I am encouraged and hopeful about the ongoing peace negotiations between the Philippines and the MILF," he said.

"We all need these negotiations to be concluded to bring the MILF into the fold", as this "would put enormous pressure on the Jemaah Islamiah", and other terror groups who are hiding in the south, said Mr Crumpton.

He also encouraged the Philippines to speedily pass an anti-terrorism law, saying "we need to give the police and judiciary the tools they need to engage the enemy".

[Fair Go]

What are the odds that the first use of chemical and biological weapons by terrorists will occur in this region?

[gondramB]

"What are the odds that the first use of chemical and biological weapons by terrorists will occur in this region?"


Not very good since a poison gas attack already occured in Japan but I get your point about the region being a hot spot.

http://www.emergency.com/japanatk.htm