Appeal to end Philippine clashes (When the goings get tough, Muslims sue for peace)?

BBC ^ | April 16, 2007

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

The Philippine government and a Muslim rebel group have been urged to end a three-day battle that has left at least 12 people dead and displaced thousands.

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) called on both sides to abide by a 1996 peace agreement.

Government troops and helicopter gunships pounded a base of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) on southern Jolo island at the weekend.

It followed a mortar attack on two marine camps on Friday.

That attack, which killed two marines and a child, has been blamed on an MNLF commander, Habier Malik.

Government forces retaliated by deploying as many as 3,000 troops and dropping bombs and rockets on to Habier Malik's base near the town of Panamao.

Army officials said at least nine rebels had been killed as the hunt for Malik and his followers continued.

More than 8,000 villagers had fled their homes to avoid the gunfire and were being sheltered in Jolo town, officials said.

'Rogue commander'

The secretary-general of the OIC, which is the world's largest grouping of Muslim countries, called for an "immediate cessation of the military operations" on Jolo.

Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu urged both sides to abide by a peace deal they signed in 1996 and "to resume negotiation in good faith for the full implementation of that agreement".

Jesus Dureza, the government's adviser on peace talks with rebels, said he wanted the armed forces to finish their offensive as soon as possible.

And he stressed the government was going after Malik, not MNLF.

"The military operation is not against the MNLF organisation," Mr Dureza said.

"It is a limited military action against an MNLF rogue commander who staged an unprovoked attack on Panamao resulting in the death and injuries of civilians and damage to properties."

Some news reports quoted Malik as saying he was avenging an incursion into an MNLF stronghold by troops hunting fighters from the Abu Sayyaf Muslim rebel group last week.

Another report suggested he may be pressuring the government to release jailed MNLF founder Nur Misuari.

The island of Jolo is some 950km (600 miles) south of the Philippine capital, Manila.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Asia pinglist.

[freeangel]

When will people realize that the only way to bargain with muslims is when they are six feet under. Their “peace” is always an excuse to re-arm, regroup and kill again.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Agreed that it does seem that a lot of violent groups use peace agreements merely as a “breather” until they get stronger—they aren’t very trustworthy.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Roger.

[Beckwith]

HUDNA - Arabic word often translated as “cease-fire.- Historically used as a tactic aimed at allowing the party declaring the hudna to regroup while tricking an enemy into lowering its guard. When the hudna expires, the party that declared it is stronger and the enemy weaker. The term comes from the story of the Muslim conquest of Mecca. Instead of a rapid victory, Muhammad made a ten-year treaty with the Kuraysh tribe. In 628 AD, after only two years of the ten-year treaty, Muhammad and his forces concluded that the Kuraysh were too weak to resist. The Muslims broke the treaty and took over all of Mecca without opposition.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Appreciated.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Here's a Wikipedia article for "Hudna."

Granted, it is Wikipedia, which often fails when it comes to political, religious, and other social topics.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

violent Muslim groups.....

Muslim was originally in there, but was deleted when violent was added, and wasn't typed back in.

[Dick Vomer]

we should have a meeting with this "leader", then kill him, all his support staff and any transport personnel.

I've been told that works very well in the Philippines. Indonesia has similar modes of conducting war, or so I've heard.

Brings back fond memories, the summers in Mindanao and Palawan, the falls in Timor and Sumatra and who can forget the winters and springs in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala.

Guerrilla "leaders" and their "organizations" are just target dense areas and should be treated as such. Anyone that comes to you with an offer of "peace" without laying down their guns and pointing out the enemy should be imprisoned and interrogated. Anyone that comes to their defense should be under surveillance and if needed, detained and a list of contacts obtained....and on and on till the guerrillas decide they don't want to fight anymore or die.

simple, but hard to do. It takes a willingness to fight and the support of your government. The Philippines are winning the fight now as long as our democrat party stays out of the mix and lets our special forces assist the effort. Most Americans don't realize our efforts there and other places in the "global war on terror".

[PGalt]

f). Jihad: Insurgency Use also of the state’s military force against larger groups of Islamists in regular military fights. A national Home Guard is organized to try to prevent private militias to grow and take over the main responsibility of protecting domestic citizens. Campaigns by the Islamic movement to convince media and the population of their right to dominate certain areas of the country proclaimed to be Muslim. Constant murders and kidnappings of opponents and well-known persons.

Coercion of Muslim young men to take part in jihad. Regular taxation of people in the liberated areas and extortion against citizens outside those areas. Few Muslim groups help the government, while some declare neutrality.

Current example: The Philippines

more here...

http://www.islam-watch.org/NoSharia/PreventEuropeIslamization1.htm

Many, many thanks to NoSharia.

[PGalt]

More discussion here...

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/016089.php#comments