/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ August 3, 2006, The Philippine Star, Philippine official says army "closing dragnet" on Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiyah,
August 3, 2006, The Philippine Star, Philippine official says army "closing dragnet" on Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiyah,
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August 3, 2006, The Philippine Star, Philippine official says army "closing dragnet" on Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiyah,
Excerpt from report in English by Philippine newspaper The Philippine Star website on 3 August
The government assured the United States, Australia and Indonesia yesterday that it would not let elusive Abu Sayyaf leader Khadafi Janjalani and his two Jemaah Islamiyah cohorts, who are wanted for the 2002 Bali bombings, escape a military dragnet in Sulu.
A civilian was killed and five soldiers were wounded in clashes outside the town of Indanan in Sulu as government troops pursued Abu Sayyaf rebels and several Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militants who have joined forces in Mindanao, military officials said.
The officials said at least three Abu Sayyaf rebels were killed and two others wounded as the military launched the air and ground offensive in Indanan, Sulu.
An estimated 200 Abu Sayyaf terrorists have been "contained" in the vicinity of Indanan, clashing at least four times with troops in the mountainous area, an official of the Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) said.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the military appeared to have reliable information on the location of Janjalani and JI militants Dulmatin, who goes by one name, and Umar Patek.
"We hope to capture or neutralize them soon," Ermita said, vowing that there would be no let-up in the pursuit operations. "The armed forces would not conduct such a massive operation unless it has very good information. So let's hope it comes up with positive results."
Government troops are exerting all efforts to seal off possible escape routes, Ermita said. "The military is closing the dragnet on them."
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Dolorfino, Southcom deputy operations chief, said that the operation was meant to flush Janjalani and his two JI allies out of the jungle.
Among the JI members believed to be hiding there are Dulmatin and Patek, both wanted for their alleged role in the 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.
"We have reports that the Indonesians are there in Sulu," said Col Mark Antonio Supnet, Southcom chief of staff.
A military official, citing intelligence information, said government troops may have indeed finally caught up with Janjalani, who has been on the run since 2003.
"We received reports that Janjalani and his group are just within Indanan and its neighbouring area," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He said the military is still trying to confirm the terrorists' whereabouts through civilian informants. [passage omitted]
Sulu Governor Benjamin Loong said 1,000 people from three remote villages outside Indanan town, where the fighting is confined, have been evacuated to safety.
He added that members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which signed a peace accord with the government in 1996 had agreed not to allow Abu Sayyaf guerrillas inside their territory.
"Nobody is giving protection to the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah. They are on their own," Supnet said.
MNLF fighters have been ordered by their leaders to prevent the Abu Sayyaf from entering their territory. [passage omitted]
Source: The Philippine Star website, Manila, in English 3 Aug 06
The government assured the United States, Australia and Indonesia yesterday that it would not let elusive Abu Sayyaf leader Khadafi Janjalani and his two Jemaah Islamiyah cohorts, who are wanted for the 2002 Bali bombings, escape a military dragnet in Sulu.
A civilian was killed and five soldiers were wounded in clashes outside the town of Indanan in Sulu as government troops pursued Abu Sayyaf rebels and several Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militants who have joined forces in Mindanao, military officials said.
The officials said at least three Abu Sayyaf rebels were killed and two others wounded as the military launched the air and ground offensive in Indanan, Sulu.
An estimated 200 Abu Sayyaf terrorists have been "contained" in the vicinity of Indanan, clashing at least four times with troops in the mountainous area, an official of the Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) said.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the military appeared to have reliable information on the location of Janjalani and JI militants Dulmatin, who goes by one name, and Umar Patek.
"We hope to capture or neutralize them soon," Ermita said, vowing that there would be no let-up in the pursuit operations. "The armed forces would not conduct such a massive operation unless it has very good information. So let's hope it comes up with positive results."
Government troops are exerting all efforts to seal off possible escape routes, Ermita said. "The military is closing the dragnet on them."
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Dolorfino, Southcom deputy operations chief, said that the operation was meant to flush Janjalani and his two JI allies out of the jungle.
Among the JI members believed to be hiding there are Dulmatin and Patek, both wanted for their alleged role in the 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.
"We have reports that the Indonesians are there in Sulu," said Col Mark Antonio Supnet, Southcom chief of staff.
A military official, citing intelligence information, said government troops may have indeed finally caught up with Janjalani, who has been on the run since 2003.
"We received reports that Janjalani and his group are just within Indanan and its neighbouring area," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He said the military is still trying to confirm the terrorists' whereabouts through civilian informants. [passage omitted]
Sulu Governor Benjamin Loong said 1,000 people from three remote villages outside Indanan town, where the fighting is confined, have been evacuated to safety.
He added that members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which signed a peace accord with the government in 1996 had agreed not to allow Abu Sayyaf guerrillas inside their territory.
"Nobody is giving protection to the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah. They are on their own," Supnet said.
MNLF fighters have been ordered by their leaders to prevent the Abu Sayyaf from entering their territory. [passage omitted]
Source: The Philippine Star website, Manila, in English 3 Aug 06
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