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Tag: Philippines

  • ISIS Launches Malay-Language Propaganda Newspaper In Southeast Asia

    ISIS Launches Malay-Language Propaganda Newspaper In Southeast Asia

    KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 — Terror group Islamic State (IS) is trying to increase its reach in South-east Asia by launching a Malay-language publication for its supporters in the region, according to a Berita Harian (BH) report.

    The Malay daily reported today that the publication called Al Fatihin was launched in southern Philippines on June 20, and is being distributed in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, southern Thailand, as well as southern Philippines itself.

    An unnamed security expert was quoted saying that the act can be seen as an “unofficial warning” that the Malay archipelago is in IS’s sights.

    “This psychological campaign means that the terrorists have a big objective, which is to expand their influence among people who understand the Malay language,” said the source.

    “Based on the way the language is used, we believe the writer or editor of the paper may be from this country,” the source added.

    Al Fatihin means “The Conqueror” in Arabic.

    A paper by the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore last month gave some details on the newspaper’s first issue’s contents.

    The 20-page edition focussed on the month of Ramadan and the act of jihad or “holy struggle”, with a three-page message from Egyptian ideologue Abu Hamzah al-Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, calling on IS fighters to “continue their jihadist activities, search for martyrdom and kill and crucify the polytheists, disbelievers, oppressors and transgressors”.

    It also featured Syrian martyr Abu Bilal al-Himshi, and various news excerpts from Raqqa in Syria to the Philippines, information and statistics on military operations, a map of IS provinces across the glove, and alms collection and distribution statistics in Syria.

    According to BH, its editor also invited all militant groups in Indonesia and the Philippines to unite and pledge allegiance to IS leader and self-styled caliph Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi.

    Bukit Aman’s Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division senior assistant director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay refused comment on the matter to the daily, claiming the matter was still being investigated.

    However he told the daily that IS is believed to be expanding its media arms, in the fields of information technology, audio visual, processing and publishing to maintain its global communications.

    “It is proven through the production of their official IS applications including an official ‘live broadcast’ radio from the official IS media centre in Iraq that is broadcasted all over the world,” said Ayub.

    Regional security expert Bilveer Singh, an adjunct senior fellow at Centre of Excellence for National Security at RSIS recently warned of possible increase in IS activities in the region as the terrorist organisation has begun losing its hold on territories in Iraq and Syria.

    There had been a recent increase of attacks linked to IS globally, including bombings at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, the slaying of hostages in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and in South-east Asia, a suicide bombing in Solo, Indonesia, as well as the grenade attack which injured eight people at a bar in Puchong — reportedly the first in Malaysia linked to the IS.

     

    Source: www.themalaymailonline.com

  • Zulfikar Shariff: Duterte – Beneath Tough Talk, Is He A Potential Peacemaker?

    Zulfikar Shariff: Duterte – Beneath Tough Talk, Is He A Potential Peacemaker?

    The election of the Philippines’ President-elect Rodrigo Duterte signals an important shift in the country’s internal politics.

    A lot has been made of Mr Duterte’s tough-speaking, no-nonsense approach to crime in Davao. His two decades as mayor of Davao City in Mindanao have seen a drop in violent crime. This drop is attributed partly to his support of the “Davao Death Squad”, a vigilante group that conducts extrajudicial killings of criminals.

    In a region where violence (criminal and political) is part of the local history, Mr Duterte’s approach was widely supported. However, beyond the tough, warrior-like front, he has also cultivated another persona – as a peacemaker. And ironically, he is possibly one of the best hopes for lasting peace in the Philippines.

    RELATIONSHIP WITH JOSE MARIA SISON

    A Maoist-inspired Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) rebellion that seeks social and political reform has lasted more than 40 years and claimed about 30,000 lives.

    The CPP is supported by its military wing, the New People’s Army (NPA) while the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is the political front.

    It seeks the removal of US influence and dismantling of traditional power structures that dominate relations between the peasantry and political elites. At its height in the 1980s, the CPP numbered more than 25,000 members. Its membership has dwindled to about 4,000, mainly from the peasant and indigenous communities.

    Negotiations between the CPP and the government have repeatedly broken down amid accusations of bad faith and insincerity. In 2013, negotiations were called off after the CPP demanded that its rebels held in detention be released. The Philippine government rejected the demand, citing difficulty in ascertaining a rebel from a criminal.

    Mr Duterte’s longstanding relationship with the CPP’s founder and ideologue, Jose Maria Sison, may provide a solution to the conflict.

    Sison, who was Mr Duterte’s lecturer at Lyceum University, has been in a self-imposed exile in the Netherlands after the Philippine government cancelled his passport while he was on a European lecture tour.

    Mr Duterte’s overtures to the CPP have been received positively by its leadership. Soon after his election, he met NDFP chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili and committed to peace talks and amnesty for political prisoners.

    He further offered the CPP four Cabinet posts in the labour, agrarian reform, environment and social welfare departments.

    This offer does not mean the CPP would necessarily be part of the administration.

    As Sison has made clear, the offer can only be accepted once there is a negotiated truce. With Mr Duterte due to be sworn in on June 30, it is unlikely that any CPP members would be part of the Duterte administration for now.

    It, however, strengthens the hand of CPP leaders who are more inclined towards peaceful negotiations over armed rebellion.

    The rapprochement has, however, been rejected by some members of the Filipino military and political establishment.

    Former navy officer and coup plotter Senator Antonio Trillanes, and former police intelligence chief Rodolfo Mendoza have both discussed the possibility of a coup if Mr Duterte proceeds with his plans to bring the communists into his administration.

    BANGSAMORO

    The Muslims in Southern Philippines (Bangsamoro or Moro nation) have resisted Spanish and American colonisation for 300 years. Since independence, that resistance is focused on the Philippine state.

    At stake is the autonomy of Mindanao and its surrounding islands.

    In 1989, an Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao was created as part of the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

    As mayor of Mindanao’s largest city and with family members from among the Bangsamoro, Mr Duterte’s candidacy was strongly supported by the Bangsamoro groups.

    His backing for the enactment of the Halal Ordinance in Davao City, which facilitates and regulates halal food compliance, and his support for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) have won him favours in the restive region.

    The basic law would have resulted in the creation of a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, granting greater autonomy for the region and a demilitarisation of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

    There are, however, other complications.

    Mr Duterte’s running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, is opposed to the basic law, saying it would lead to civil war and strengthen the MILF.

    The weakening MNLF has thus far rejected the basic law while the MILF has declared that its demilitarisation is conditional on the BBL being passed into law.

    Mr Duterte now appears to have moved away from his support for the basic law and is pushing for federalism of the Philippines. While federalism would potentially grant local autonomy to the Mindanao (among others), they would remain as just another region within the Philippine state.

    Still, the Bangsamoro appear to be hopeful of Mr Duterte’s next moves. Having worked closely with him over the years, there is optimism that he will be an honest broker and help initiate peaceful settlements.

    NAVIGATING INTERESTS

    While Mr Duterte appears to have the force of personality and longstanding relationships with leaders of the CPP and the Bangsamoro, he still needs to navigate a political system that has failed to find a solution.

    Sections of the military that have spent decades fighting the CPP and MILF appear to reject any settlement with the two groups.

    The failed negotiations over the years have also created a distrustful environment among political elites on each side.

    His challenge is not merely to negotiate a workable agreement but to convince every party to let go of the legacies of conflict and distrust. At the same time, he needs to assure the elements within the military and political elites and the rebel groups that they will remain relevant and influential.

    While his extending the olive branch to the CPP and MILF is a positive start, Mr Duterte still needs to convince his administration that lasting peace is the best hope for the country. And hope that the CPP and MILF keep to their end of the deal.

    • The writer is a final-year PhD candidate at La Trobe University, Australia (International Relations). He researches International Institutionalism with a focus on Asean.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • Pinoy Manager At Basil By ThaiExpress Rolled Eyes At Customer Despite Late Order

    Pinoy Manager At Basil By ThaiExpress Rolled Eyes At Customer Despite Late Order

    A reader shared this bad experience with a Pinoy restaurant manager at Basil by ThaiExpress at Kallang Wave mall. Has anyone had the same experience with the outlet?

    Read the full post here.

    AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COST!!!! WORST SERVICE BY THE STAFF!!!!

    I’ve been in F&B for awhile and I’ve never encountered such rude staff just for doing a follow up on the food. Do us all a favour and FIRE YOUR MANAGER NAMED LOVELY ASAP!!!! Seriously!

    My BF approached her nicely asking for his food which was delayed for more than 35 minutes and guess what this smart ass lady replied “uhhhh” with a dumb face- and when he ask if she can do something about it like ask the kitchen she replied “yeah but doesn’t your table have the 3?” (We ordered 4 since there’s 4 of us). Worst part is when she hand over the last dish (45 minutes late) she rolled her eyes at us!!!!

    Do your customers a favour and send her ass back to Philippines. Her attitude will surely kill your business and the customers who would just like to eat but instead had to wait ages and treated rudely by your pathetic excuse of a restaurant manager.

    An Tan
    A.S.S. Reade

    Source; www.allsingaporestuff.com

     

  • Militants Intend To Kill Malaysian Who Is Slowing Them Down

    Militants Intend To Kill Malaysian Who Is Slowing Them Down

    KOTA KINABALU: Abu Sayyaf mi­­litants holding two Malaysian hostages are threatening to behead one of them if no payment is made soon as they move bases amid heavy Philippine troops’ movement in Jolo island.

    According to Filipino and Malaysian sources, the Abu Sayyaf group is facing pressure from the Philippine security forces which were closing in on them.

    Apparently, the gunmen wanted the cash fast as one of the two hostages was slowing them down.

    The sources said that Sarawak tourist Bernard Then, 39, had leg injuries and was not able to run with the gunmen during military operations around Jolo.

    Then and restaurant manager Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, were snatched from the Ocean King Restaurant in Sandakan on May 14 by a Filipino kidnap-for-ransom group.

    They are being held by Abu Sayyaf sub-commander Indang Susukan who was demanding 30 million pesos (about RM2.8mil) for their freedom.

    Families of the two Malaysians have been receiving calls from the Abu Sayyaf group, threatening to carry out the beheading.

    However, the families have been unable to raise the money and were seeking help from the Prime Minister as well as chief ministers of Sabah and Sarawak to help inter­­vene and secure their freedom.

    According to the sources, the situation turned critical especially after two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipina were kidnapped from a Philippine resort in Samal Island on Sept 21.

    They are widely suspected to have been brought to Jolo island though no group had claimed responsibility so far.

    Filipino sources believed that they might be held by Abu Sayyaf commander Al Habsi Misaya and another sub-commander from the notorious Sawajan family that triggered intensified security ope­rations in Jolo island.

    Though they are from different groups, they are linked to each other. The operations are forcing all of them to be on the run, a source said, citing that Then was thus slowing them down.

    Philippine officials have yet to confirm the whereabouts of the Canadians and Norwegian but they have spotted an abandoned boat believed to have been used by the kidnappers along a village coast in Jolo.

    Unlike previous kidnap victims who were mostly hidden in jungle hideouts, sources said the two Malaysians were now being moved all the time to avoid capture by Philippine military or police.

     

    Source: www.thestar.com.my

  • Maid Sentenced To Two Weeks Jail For Fracturing Baby’s Elbow

    Maid Sentenced To Two Weeks Jail For Fracturing Baby’s Elbow

    A maid was sentenced to two weeks’ jail after she caused a fracture on the right elbow of her employer’s seven-month-old daughter in February by yanking on the baby’s arm.

    Valencia Gemalyn Garma, 24, a Filipina, had been employed to do general house cleaning and look after her employer’s two children.

    The court heard that on Feb 21, at about 1.30am, Garma, who had been working for the family for seven months, had settled down to sleep with the baby when the child began crying.

    She said she had not managed to fall asleep and was agitated and tired after having had to care for her employer’s older child, who is two years old. She picked up the baby in an attempt to pacify her, carrying her on her right arm.

    Later, she transferred the baby to her chest by forcefully pulling at the baby’s right arm. When the baby continued crying for 10 minutes, Garma suspected that she had hurt the baby, but she did not inform her employer out of fear.

    The employer was awakened by the baby’s cries and took over, telling Garma to go to sleep.

    But when her daughter continued to cry for half an hour before falling asleep, and woke up crying again at 3am, she became concerned that the baby might be in pain. Examinations by doctors at Thomson Medical Centre and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital revealed that the child had suffered a fracture to her right elbow.

    When questioned by her employer, Garma initially denied any involvement but later admitted to hurting the child.

    Deputy Public Prosecutor Fong Jin Heng submitted that Garma’s failure to inform her employer of the possible injury significantly delayed the baby’s mother from seeking necessary medical attention.

    District Judge Toh Yung Cheong took into account the fact that Garma had not had prior experience in caring for children and her tired state at the time of the negligent act, and ordered a sentence of two weeks’ jail.

    For causing grievous hurt by a negligent act, Garma could have been jailed up to six months and fined up to $2,500.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com