Malaysia negotiating repatriation of citizens detained by US as terror suspects
While Philippines launches new antiterror task force. Our first weekly summary.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s negotiations with the US to repatriate two of its citizens detained in Cuba for suspected terror activities and the activation of a new task force to fight terrorism in the southern Philippines are SEA MILITANCY’s highlights from the week of Sept. 25-Oct. 1.
MALAYSIA has started negotiations with the US to repatriate two of its citizens who are currently being detained in Cuba for suspected roles in the 2002 Bali bombings and other terror attacks.
Malaysia’s home minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said on Oct 1 that the talks are still at the preliminary stage.
“It’s still early. We’ve started negotiating with the American authorities. So there are no decisions yet. We will inform you of the progress,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.
Earlier, Saifuddin said he had discussed the matter in a meeting with the US Special Representative for Guantanamo Affairs, Tina Kaidanow, in New York recently.
"This is my second meeting with Tina Kaidanow and a follow-up meeting from my visit to Guantanamo Bay,” he said according to news reports.
Malaysians Mohamad Nazir Bin Lep and Mohammed Farik Bin Amin as well as an Indonesian, Encep Nurjaman @ Hambali, were accused or murder, terrorism and conspiracy in the 2002 Bali bombings which killed 202 people and the 2003 JW Marriott Hotel bombing in Indonesia's capital Jakarta in which 11 people died.
In the southern PHILIPPINES, the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) has deactivated two of its joint task forces to focus on emerging challenges in internal security and territorial defence in its area of operation.
Major General Steve Crespillo, the commander of Westmincom, spearheaded the deactivation of Joint Task Forces Basilan and Sulu at Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo, Sulu province, on September 25. Both task forces were at the forefront of the fight against terrorism.
Following the disbanding of both task forces, Westmincom activated Joint Task Force (JTF) - Orion, a multi-service, multi-domain task force to address and provide unity of command in confronting the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf Group and in compelling peace-inclined armed groups to support and participate in various peace programmes.
The JTF-Orion has operational jurisdiction over the provinces of Basilan and Sulu.
Major General Ignatius Patrimonio, the commander of the 11th Infantry Division and former JTF-Sulu, was designated as the concurrent commander of the JTF-Orion.
Another history was made in the southern Philippines when a former Abu Sayyaf terrorist became a Philippine Army soldier.
The man was one of 363 new soldiers who completed their training at Camp Cesar Sang-an in Zamboanga del Sur province.
Major General Antonio Nafarrete, commander of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said the man was one of 363 newly minted soldiers who completed their training at the Camp Cesar Sang-an in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur province.
The former Abu Sayyaf member’s identity was kept under wraps for security reasons.