Op/Ed: Fighting Terrorism

Op/Ed piece in the Sun Star-Cagayan de Oro (Dec 21): Fighting Terrorism (By Menardo Wenceslao)

AN operative of the Jemaah Islamiyah met his tragic end in the hands of Davao City police SWAT force. Mohd Fikrie Abd Kahar, a native of Malacca, Malaysia, sneaked into the southern capital in the advent of the Christmas holiday when much of the city is in the celebration mood. Davao, which is the commercial and communications center in Mindanao, has established quite sophisticated tripping points that monitors and reports movements of suspicious characters. This is a basic intelligence network that involves private citizens in various critical areas in the city where suspects may find ingress and possible areas where they might seek refuge. This web of listening posts was laid out when terrorists exploded improvised bombs at the vicinity of the Davao City Airport and then the seaport in Sasa. It was to be used later against organized crime and drug syndicates. If Davao City earned the distinction of being the most peaceful and orderly and livable city in the country, this can be attributed to the tripping points which then City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had established.

Despite its sophistication moreover, elements like Jemaah Islamiyah can slip through the perimeter of the city. Nevertheless, the next ring of intelligence network could be a big challenge to terrorist elements. At this point, we cannot divulge how the intelligence community worked out the sophistry of its drive against the like of JIs. It must have surprised Fikrie how the police hounds kept track of his movement. His cohorts must have also been surprised how Fikrie was skillfully dealt with by police operatives. We believe that there are remnants of JIs who are still lurking not only in Mindanao but also in Metro Manila and other major capitals in Asia. While these militants claim to be Islamic crusaders, their ways are in fact, un-Islamic and they are being condemned by Imams worldwide.

On the heels of the neutralization of Fikrie, Malaysian authorities issued a statement expressing grave concern on the subversive activities and threats of militants and terrorist groups. Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein declared that because of the terrorists’ threats on the country’s peace and security, they always cooperate closely with the security authorities of other countries in ensuring the security of their own country but also of the region. Malaysia is not saying this without basis. It is a given that while these militants are purportedly after the enemies of Islam, the truth is most of the victims of their terroritic activities are actually Muslims. This is the reality in Indonesia and in Arab countries.

In Mindanao, Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf Guerillas have inflicted so much physical harm on civilian communities in the island provinces of Basilan and Sulu and in Central Mindanao. In the ensuing military and police campaign, thousands of Christians and Muslim inhabitants are displaced. The more the casualty and the louder the cry of agony of the wounded, the more they derive pleasure and reward from their evil deed. Terrorism is a modern-day crime. It is vicious and diabolic. It can be carried out by a few but can harm a thousand. Fikrie attempted to carry out a mission of detonating an improvised explosive device in a crowd but he was stopped by a marksman who felled him before he can create havoc.  Terrorist might try another adventurism but the alarm had been sounded and the guards are up.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/opinion/2012/12/21/wenceslao-fighting-terrorism-259548#