To Take A Stand
By Rafael M. Alunan III
Reliable sources have disclosed that Operation “Awakening the Believers” was rolled out globally in early July. Simultaneous attacks were launched in Syria, Libya, Mozambique, Somalia, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iraq. Islamic State Southeast Asia (ISEA) will allegedly follow suit with multiple coordinated attacks in the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. The attacks will reportedly come in waves, first from July to September, then another wave till the end of the year. High value targets such as churches, hotels, malls, public transport, and other heavily populated areas are reportedly in their sights.
Extremist organizations around the world regard themselves as part of Islamic jihad. They refer to themselves as the “World Islamic Front for Jihad against Jews and Crusaders,” serving as an umbrella organization for terrorist coalitions and independent networks with common ideologies and shared operational ties, such as the “black flag” groups operating in the Philippines which are aligned either with Al Qaeda (AQ) or Islamic State (IS or Daesh), e.g. the Abu Sayaff Group (ASG), Sayful Ansarul Khilafa fi Luzon, Ansarul Khilafa fi Filipin, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and IS Ranao.
They regard Islam as their way of life and despise Western values (e.g. democracy, secularism, equality, human rights). Islamist terror organizations advocate all-out jihad against unbelievers (kuffars) wherein ends justify any and all means of terrorism. “Black flag” is the term used to denote terrorist groups and social movements that follow the Salafi religious interpretation of Islam which is literalist and puritanical. Based on traditional Islamic literature its followers are known as the “al-Khawarij.”
Terrorist financing funds specific missions and sustains the organization’s existential requirements. These are sourced from state sponsors, business fronts, criminal activities, and tithing. They are also supported by Black Flag-affiliate International Non-Government Organizations (BINGOs) such as the Muslim World League, the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, the International Islamic Relief Organization, Islamic Wisdom Worldwide, and Benevolence/Mercy
Foundation that fund education-social-cultural-youth coalitions, movements or foundations. Additionally, the link between terrorism and organized crime is well established, such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, arms smuggling and other criminal acts connected to terrorists.
Extremist organizations use state-of-the-art communications technologies to promote their cause worldwide, threaten, recruit, coordinate attacks, shape public opinion, and influence the global political and media agenda. The Internet is an ideal means for marketing terrorism: it’s decentralized, unrestricted, and accessible. Many Facebook accounts for example are used by IS, AQ, local black flag groups and support organizations here and abroad. There must be a focused effort to identify the users, take them offline, and shut down these accounts.
Due to ISIL’s crushing defeat in the Middle East, there has been an observable migration of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) to South East Asia to seek safe haven (Wilayatul Mashriq) and establish new provinces or “wilayats” under Daulah Islamiya (IS) governance rules. During and after the Marawi siege, FTF bodies were recovered and identified by the authorities. Marawi was part of the IS campaign to establish a Southeast Asian caliphate and a wilayat in Mindanao. Foreign jihadists were, and still are, “embedded” among local terror groups, waiting to strike at opportune times, perhaps ala Mumbai or Sri Lanka, or Ipil.
The Daulah Islamiya Wilayatul Mashriq coalition of the ASG, the Maute Group, and BIFF is a serious concern because geographically and ethnically diverse groups banded together and fought as one to lay siege on Marawi. Their areas of operation dangerously intersect, if not overlap, with those of the Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front, as well as that of the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front of the Philippines-New People’s Army. This has led to cross-pollination of ideologies, grievances, and subversive tactics that fan opportunities for tactical cooperation nationwide in the realm of terror attacks where they’re co-located.
The increasing number of suicide bombings in the past 12 months indicate a higher level of commitment to the militant cause. Last January, an Indonesian couple was behind the Jolo cathedral’s bombing that killed 21 people. A month ago, on June 28, two suicide bombers attacked an army camp. Eight were killed (including the two bombers) and 22 were wounded in that attack. A year ago, in July, 10 persons were killed at a Lamiftan, Basilan checkpoint when a suicide bomber allegedly from Morocco detonated the bomb in the van he was driving.
Our authorities believe that at least seven foreign Islamic terrorists — allegedly from Egypt, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore — are currently scattered in Sulu, Basilan, and Maguindanao teaching skills like producing IEDs, planning attacks, recruitment and developing potential suicide bombers. Furthermore, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana recently disclosed that reports are being verified that close to 100 foreign jihadists from Indonesia, the Middle East, Thailand, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Morocco are scattered in various parts of the country.
Despite its territorial and manpower losses, ISIS is expected to persist in 2019. Classic ISIS operations such as vehicle to knife attacks, bombings and armed assault, arson, raids, and even explosives-laden drone attacks are likely. Compounding matters is the violent discord between Sunnis and Shiites. Here at home, we’ve seen dangerous signs of that in Mindanao and in Manila as rivals fight for turf and influence. Local religious leaders are dismayed by this troubling development with the prospects of sectarian violence worsening.
Preparedness is everything. It’s about saving lives, protecting the economy, and preserving our freedom from oppression, hatred, prejudice, and intolerance. Our safety and security depend on our vigilance and preparations for the worst case scenarios. Prevention is top priority but if they manage to slip through, a swift crushing response is essential. Staying on top of the game requires thorough planning, integration, training, equipage, jointness of effort at the policy, crisis management and operational levels, and skillful execution.
Intelligence and counter-terror forces should keep sharing information and conducting joint drills — table top exercises and field training exercises — over and over again until they get it right. Incident commanders should be pre-chosen and thoroughly trained to have zero tolerance for incompetence and laxity. Bottom line: do not underestimate, or be overconfident, or take anything for granted.
Rafael M. Alunan III served in the cabinet of President Corazon C. Aquino as Secretary of Tourism, and in the cabinet of President Fidel V. Ramos as Secretary of Interior and Local Government.
