Abu Sayyaf won’t stop, say counter-terrorism experts

From the Malay Mail Online (Nov 20): Abu Sayyaf won’t stop, say counter-terrorism experts

Malaysia cannot afford to allow radical militant groups like Abu Sayyaf to operate on the fringes of its borders, according to the region’s top counter-terrorism expert.

Singapore-based International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research head Professor Rohan Gunaratna described the situation in the area as a “ticking time bomb”.

 “It has turned into a highway for terrorism. The Abu Sayyaf network, in particular, has proven to be extremely resilient and capable despite significant efforts to destroy it,” he said.

Rohan added that recent developments changed the dynamics of the group and attacks of increasing severity and precision should be expected.

“The group was joined last year by at least six Malaysians. Shortly after, the group’s leader Isnilon Totoni Hapilon pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS). “The allegiance is especially worrying as it may be more than just a marketing tactic. Aspiring militants may now travel to the Philippines rather than the Middle East,” he said.

It was reported last year that former University of Malaya lecturer Dr Mahmud bin Ahmad, now known as Abu Handzalah, had joined the group and was actively recruiting fighters for IS.

 “The infusing of the group with Malaysian citizens represents an escalation that may not have been appreciated at the time,” he said.

Rohan said the group would attempt to wreak havoc in the country by first attacking economic targets such as Sabah’s tourism industry.

 “If they are able to achieve that, the pool of young unemployed men who are disenfranchised may be drawn to militancy. “They may even target Malaysian leaders in an attempt to exploit political tension in the country,” he said.

On Monday, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein revealed IS had compiled a hit-list of Malaysian leaders, including himself, in response to the country’s counter-terrorism efforts.

Rohan said that a serious regional effort was needed to dismantle the group as the threat was a cross-border one.

 “Turn the rhetoric into action, cooperation into collaboration. There must be effective sharing of intelligence and joint operations against the group,” he said.

Crime analyst Kamal Affendi Hashim said the group’s local informers must be brought to justice or such kidnappings and attacks would continue.

 “Abu Sayyaf has no satellites. They don’t have the hardware to conduct surveillance. What they have are willing collaborators on the ground who feed them information. “These informers need to be arrested. They are traitors and are putting the country’s security and citizens at risk,” he said.

Kamal said these locals also provided logistical support and that booking them would prove to be more effective than armed intervention.

 “Removing these people will be a painful blow to the group. They would be left blinded and would have to take more risks, making armed intervention more effective,” he said.

Kamal described the Abu Sayyaf network as “a bunch of glorified bandits” and that there would not be a slowdown of the network’s activities. “Kidnapping for ransom is a major source of income, if not the most important. As long as they have the information, logistics and opportunity, they are unlikely to stop.”

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/abu-sayyaf-wont-stop-say-counter-terrorism-experts