FRESH FIGHTING, OLD NEWS IN MINDANAO IN THE PHILIPPINES
The latest news out of the Philippines this second week of October 2006 is that the whole country, including Manila, is on high security alert following an outbreak of violence in Mindanao, the southern part of the islands. More attacks are anticipated as tensions between the military and militants continue to escalate.
Violence, including bombings and armed combat, has been reported in the provinces of North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat. The militants include the Muslim groups of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Abu Sayyaf and the communist New People’s Army (NPA). This dangerous coalition has even been made more volatile with the reported presence of fighters from Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a militant terrorist group with strong links to al-Qaeda that is believed to have a small (about 30-40 members) but dedicated members in the southern Philippines.
As an interesting sidelight, it was reported that the recent fighting included a fierce skirmish between troops of the Philippine Army’s 39th Infantry Brigade and the NPA’s female fighters, the Amazonas.
A few months ago, I published an e-book entitled “Mindanao Jottings” about my experiences in Mindanao in the early 1970’s. I recounted many of my first-hand experiences and eye-witness accounts of the violence brought about by the Christian-Muslim conflict of those times. What many do not realize is that, unless peace is quickly brokered, this outbreak of violence will escalate and involve the civilian population in a bloody conflagration. Just like in the ‘70’s during my time, Christian para-military units will form and arm themselves again. The civilian population, both Christians and Muslims, will be caught in the cross-fire and the violence. There will be victims of atrocities on both sides of the ethnic divide, including women and children.
As I concluded in my book, the tragedy of the Christian-Muslim conflict in the 1970’s was that, after all the fighting, bloodshed and atrocities, nothing had changed in the 2000’s. Some of the fighters might be second generation by now, and some organizations might sport new names now, with virulent terrorist affiliations, but the misery, bloodshed and dislocation visited on the innocent population has not changed.
You may purchase my book “Mindanao Jottings” at the online store at any of the websites listed below.
Jay de Leon
www.filipinomartialartsmuseum.com
www.tipunan.com
http://www.filipinofightingartsintl.com/
Violence, including bombings and armed combat, has been reported in the provinces of North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat. The militants include the Muslim groups of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Abu Sayyaf and the communist New People’s Army (NPA). This dangerous coalition has even been made more volatile with the reported presence of fighters from Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a militant terrorist group with strong links to al-Qaeda that is believed to have a small (about 30-40 members) but dedicated members in the southern Philippines.
As an interesting sidelight, it was reported that the recent fighting included a fierce skirmish between troops of the Philippine Army’s 39th Infantry Brigade and the NPA’s female fighters, the Amazonas.
A few months ago, I published an e-book entitled “Mindanao Jottings” about my experiences in Mindanao in the early 1970’s. I recounted many of my first-hand experiences and eye-witness accounts of the violence brought about by the Christian-Muslim conflict of those times. What many do not realize is that, unless peace is quickly brokered, this outbreak of violence will escalate and involve the civilian population in a bloody conflagration. Just like in the ‘70’s during my time, Christian para-military units will form and arm themselves again. The civilian population, both Christians and Muslims, will be caught in the cross-fire and the violence. There will be victims of atrocities on both sides of the ethnic divide, including women and children.
As I concluded in my book, the tragedy of the Christian-Muslim conflict in the 1970’s was that, after all the fighting, bloodshed and atrocities, nothing had changed in the 2000’s. Some of the fighters might be second generation by now, and some organizations might sport new names now, with virulent terrorist affiliations, but the misery, bloodshed and dislocation visited on the innocent population has not changed.
You may purchase my book “Mindanao Jottings” at the online store at any of the websites listed below.
Jay de Leon
www.filipinomartialartsmuseum.com
www.tipunan.com
http://www.filipinofightingartsintl.com/
posted by jay de leon at 3:07 PM
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