From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Nov 29): Kato group blames ‘other forces’ for deadly blast
The explosion that killed a member of Ameril Umra Kato’s Bangsamoro Islamic
Freedom Movement and wounded nine others in Maguindanao on Monday was the result
of an attack “by other unidentified forces,” the group’s spokesperson said
Thursday.
Abu Misry Mama told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone that there was no
truth to a military claim that a group of BIFM fighters, including their chief
of staff Mohaiden Animbang, were carrying the explosives and that these
detonated prematurely. Earlier, Col. Prudencio Asto, spokesperson of the military’s 6th Infantry
Division based in Maguindanao, said the military believed the BIFM guerrillas
were in possession of explosives fashioned out of 81-millimeter mortar shells
when the blast took place in Barangay Lower Salvo in the town of Datu Saudi
Ampatuan. But Mama said the guerrillas were not carrying any explosive at that time,
although they had firearms, as they were on their way to a conference. He said the convoy of BIFM forces came under attack. “But we would not yet disclose the identities of the group and individuals
involved in the incident until we finish the investigation,” Mama said. He said the BIFM would vigorously pursue the attackers and will mete out the
death penalty on them. Mama said they would follow Islamic law in the process, which recognizes
death penalty if the crime was committed intentionally. The BIFM broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2010 because of
disagreements over peace talks with the Philippine government. The exact number of Kato’s followers, mainly Maguindanaons, is unknown;
government estimates vary from 500 to just over a thousand armed men.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/315247/kato-group-blames-other-forces-for-deadly-blast
It looks like, so far, the BIFM leadership is clueless about who carried out the attacks. Some possibilities include: 1)The attack could be a continuation of clashes between local MILF and BIFM commanders fueled by land conflicts. Several clashes have already taken place. 2) Could be operations directed by the MILF leadership to get rid of a wayward faction that could undermine the recently hailed GRP-MILF Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (would be risky because Kato is still respected within the MILF and could provoke BIFM retaliation if discovered) 3) Could be a Philippine military covert operation to neutralize a renegade group whose leaders are still on law enforcement wanted lists (remote possibility because I don't think the military would want to do anything at this juncture that would exacerbate tensions in the region or unhinge local cooperative arrangements that currently exist with the MILF) 4) Could be a manifestation of an internal power struggle within the BIFM. Kato appears to be incapacitated and the current leadership seems willing to hold off on operations until they see how the GRP-MILF agreement plays out. This might not be sitting well with the really hardline Islamists within the group.
ReplyDeleteWhat we know about the incident comes mostly from the BIFM spokesperson Abu Misry Mama. According to him two IEDs (reportedly cellphone detonated 81mm mortar shells) exploded about 20 minutes apart along the routes BIFM leaders were taking to attend an "Islamic dialogue" in Datu Saudi town. According to Misry the first IED was detonated in the vicinity of Lower Salvo village and appeared to target the convoy/column of Mohaiden Animbang, the BIFM chief of staff. The second IED exploded in the vicinity of the village of Iginampong and appeared to target the convoy/column of BIFM Vice Chairman Dr. Mohammad Ali Tambako. Taking Mama's statements at face value it would that the attacks were a deliberate effort to decapitate the BIFM by taking out its two key leaders. The placement of the IEDs would seem to indicate the attackers had advance knowledge of the routes the two BIFM leaders would take. The timing of the detonation of the IEDs would suggest the attackers had eyes on the targets, either in the immediate vicinity of the IEDs or were moving along within the BIFM convoy or column. This should have set off alarm bells within the BIFM leadership.
I'm surprised that the Philippine military hasn't exploited the situation by suggesting it was an inside job that reflects apparent discord within the group. Philippine spokespersons could have highlighted the points above regarding the advance knowledge involved in the placement of the IEDs and the apparent proximity of the attackers in order to accurately time their detonation. They could have waited to see if the BIFM leadership would take the bait.
I seem to remember how this tactic was successful in raising the level of paranoia within selected Maoist NPA units that eventually resulted in the communists going after each other (Campaign Ahos in Mindanao for example back in the late 1980s/early 1990s). (The military subtly suggested that it had deep penetration agents (DPAs) operating within the NPA)