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Monday, March 29, 2004
US survey describes RP as terrorist aid
A RECENT United States Republican survey has tagged the country--one of the US' strongest Asian allies on its global war on terrorism--as one of four countries that aid and harbor terrorists.
This as a Malaysian survey team--part of the international peace monitoring team (IMT)--visited Sunday more "areas of temporary stay" (ATS) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Central Mindanao to observe strict implementation of the ceasefire agreement between government and MILF.
The question targeting the country was included in the National Republican Congressional Committee's "Ask America 2004" policy survey, one of the party's fund-raising initiatives.
It said: "Should America broaden the war on terrorism into other countries that harbor and aid terrorists such as Thailand, Syria, Somalia, the Philippines etc?"
Thai Foreign ministry spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow said it would take action to correct the terrorist slur, and that it was likely that the slur was a misunderstanding, but that the Thai embassy in Washington would check into the survey and make sure it was corrected.
"If it is true (that they accused Thailand of aiding terrorists), we need to make an urgent explanation to let them know the truth," he said.
However, he said the incident would not affect relations with the United States as the question was posed by the party, rather than by the ruling administration of President George W. Bush.
Government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said the slur was likely a result of politicking during an election year.
Both the Philippines and Thailand have problems with Muslim militants, but the countries are generally applauded for their anti-terrorism activities.
The Philippines is a staunch supporter of the US-led global war on terrorism and has contributed medical and engineering personnel to the reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
Thailand stayed neutral in the US-led invasion of Iraq but since then has sent military contingents to assist in the rebuilding of the nation.
Asia's most wanted man, Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) operations chief Hambali, was captured in a joint Thai-US operation in the central city of Ayutthaya last year, drawing plaudits from Washington.
Last week US Secretary of State Colin Powell thanked the Philippines for its cooperation in the global terror war including its battle against Muslim Abu Sayyaf guerrillas in the country's troubled south.
Peace monitoring team
Meanwhile, the 10-man Malaysian advance survey team visited Central Mindanao, entering its sixth-day stay in Mindanao Sunday.
The foreign team, led by Malaysian Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Zulkifli Bin Mohammad Zain, had so far visited six MILF ATS since Thursday. They first visited Barangay Lukatan in Taragona, Davao Oriental where they met with MILF commander Sonny Abubakar, alias Sonny Davao, and his men.
Other MILF ATS in Palembang, Sultan Kudarat and Badir, Omar and Darapanan in Maguindanao were also visited by the foreign team last Friday and Saturday.
It was learned that around 4,000 MILF rebels met with the foreign team in Darapanan over the weekend.
On Sunday, the team visited the former stronghold of the MILF in Buliok Complex where the late MILF chair Hashim Salamat used to hold residence.
The Malaysian team is expected to visit about 10 MILF ATS in Mindanao for the duration of their stay.
Southern Command chief Major General Roy Kyamko explained that the areas visited by the Malaysian advance team were actually not MILF camps, but only areas of temporary stay where MILF rebels are only allowed stay two days before and two days after the scheduled consultation meeting.
Aside from visiting MILF's ATS, the group also met with various military and local public officials in Mindanao. Wednesday last week, they made a courtesy call on the Southern Command office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Zamboanga City. On Thursday, they met with Davao City Vice Mayor Luis Bonguyan and Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Roy Kyamko here in the city.
On Friday, the group met with North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Pinol at the provincial capitol in Amas, Kidapawan City. Later on the day, the Malaysian team met with Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema in Cotabato.
On Saturday, the group met with Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan. The foreign advance survey team will be in Mindanao until Thursday, before returning to Malaysia.
Zain's team served as the advance survey team of the international peace monitoring team (IMT) that will observe the strict implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the Philippine government and the MILF.
The IMT that will soon be arriving will be staying in Mindanao for the duration of the formal peace negotiations that will soon be held in Kuala Lumpur. Ben O. Tesiorna/AFP
(March 29, 2004 issue)
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