[Kabar-indonesia] 30 JI Hiding in Philippines [incl: 2 Bali Bombers]: Military Chief

[JoyoNews at aol.com]

Agence France-Presse
September 8, 2006

30 JI hiding in Philippines: military chief
 
Up to 30 members of the Al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) are still 
hiding in the Philippines including two suspected Bali bombers, the country's 
military chief of staff has said.

General Hermogenes Esperon said the military was trying to confirm reports 
that the two Bali bombers, Umar Patek and Dulmatin, had been wounded in recent 
fighting on the southern island of Jolo.

More than 5,000 troops are involved in hunting down the two men and their 
local Muslim protectors, the Abu Sayyaf extremist group.

Dulmatin and Umar Patek are wanted for the 2002 bombings that killed 202 
people on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. The US government has placed a 
bounty totalling 11 million dollars on their heads.

Esperon identified the two as Indonesians but would not specify the 
identities or nationalities of the other JI members who were being sheltered by some 
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders.

He said that despite signing a ceasefire with the government in 2001 some 
MILF commanders are working with the Abu Sayyaf against the orders of the their 
own leadership.

The JI, a regional Southeast Asian extremist group linked to Al-Qaeda, has 
been trying to establish a base in the southern Philippines, Esperon told a 
forum of foreign correspondents.

Esperon said the government was determined to press on with its assault on JI 
and the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo, adding that eight military battalions had been 
deployed to the area since early August.

Twelve soldiers and 12 Abu Sayyaf fighters have been killed in the fighting 
so far with 50 soldiers wounded and 10 Abu Sayyaf fighters captured, he said.

The military believes the Abu Sayyaf has suffered more casualties from aerial 
bombings and grenade attacks although the group has been able to recover and 
bury their dead quickly, he added.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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