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http://www.inq7.net/nat/2002/jul/28/nat_2-1.htmhttp://www.inq7.net/nat/2002/jul/28/nat_2-1.htm
Powell: RP-US military
exercise 'effective'
Posted: 11:09 PM (Manila Time) | Jul. 27, 2002
By Jennie L. Ilustre, PDI Washington Correspondent
Inquirer News Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. - American security experts urged US Secretary of State Colin Powell over the weekend to recommend that "future Asean military exercises be modeled on the successful Balikatan . . . exercises between the United States and the Philippines."
Their remarks came a day after Powell told Asian reporters that joint RP-US military exercises that end on Wednesday have "paid off in terms of effectiveness of the Philippine armed forces" in combating terrorism.
Large-scale military exercises will resume in October. Powell will likely discuss the terms of a sustained, expanded military cooperation arrangement when he meets with President Macapagal-Arroyo in Manila on August 3.
On Friday, Heritage Foundation analyst Paolo Pasicolan told the Inquirer that the "US wants to strengthen the Philippine military's ability to deal with terror. Hopefully, this will translate to greater regional security as well, especially since Manila has displayed a willingness to lead the war on terrorism in Southeast Asia."
Dana R. Dillon, the foundation's senior policy analyst for Southeast Asia, said, "Unlike previous exercises, this year's Balikatan was conducted in Basilan, where the Abu Sayyaf terrorists were holding Americans hostage. US and Philippine forces were able to carry out training missions that coincided with an ongoing military operation. The joint exercises forced the Abu Sayyaf to flee Basilan and led to the conclusion of that hostage crisis."
He added: "This model could be applied to other security problems. For instance, combined naval exercises could be conducted in the Malacca Straits, where the incidence of maritime piracy is the highest in the world. Asean should conduct such operations on its own, and Secretary Powell should encourage additional expanded exercises to include other members of ARF (Asean Regional Forum)."
The Heritage Foundation is an influential conservative think tank. The Philippines is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which now includes nine other countries.
In a 20-minute briefing with Asian reporters here Thursday, Powell said: "I think that training has paid off in terms of effectiveness of the Philippine armed forces which are operating where the terrorists are, and they've had some success. Unfortunately, two hostages were killed in a recent operation. But then they've had some success in capturing or killing, in that incident at sea, some leaders of the (Abu Sayyaf) group."
Powell left Friday on an eight-nation Asian trip. He is attending the July 31-Aug. 1 Asean Regional Forum in Brunei, and meeting Ms Macapagal late Saturday morning.
High praise
In a June 10 speech before New York's Asia Society, Powell had praised both the AFP and American troops taking part in Balikatan. "The Armed Forces of the Philippines fight courageously against indigenous terrorist organizations that clearly have international ties. I am proud, so proud, that American forces are helping to train and equip their Philippine Army counterparts to combat groups such as Abu Sayyaf, a terrorist organization which regularly kidnaps, as you know too well, civilians for ransom."
At the state department, spokesperson Richard Boucher told the Inquirer that the United States had not yet decided whether to seek the extradition of the five Abu Sayyaf leaders indicted by a federal grand jury here on July 23.
"I'm sure the Philippines has filed charges as well. They want to see these people brought to justice," he replied. "Our legal authorities will have to work out how that process proceeds. Whether or not a request for extradition is proposed would be a matter that our legal authorities would discuss with Philippine legal authorities."
The Abu Sayyaf leaders were charged for, among other instances, the kidnapping of American missionary Gracia Burnham of Kansas, and the death of Gracia's husband and fellow missionary Martin and Filipino nurse Edibora Yap. The five leaders indicted are Khadafi Abubakar Janjalani, also known as Abu Muktar; Isnilon Totoni Hapilon, alias Abu Musab, a second-in-command known as "the Deputy;" Jainal Antel Sali Junior, alias Abu Solaiman, a commander known as "the Engineer;" Hamsiraji Marusi Sali, also known as Tiberkis or Jose Ramirez, and Abu Sabaya, who is presumed dead. The others are still at large.
In the speech at Asia Society, Powell had said that the "murderous example of Abu Sayyaf shows how right President (George W.) Bush has been to lead a global campaign against all terrorists, all forms of terrorism, and not just against al-Qaida."
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