The Abu Sayyaf Group and the Counter-Terror Response
The Abu Sayyaf Group and the Counter-terror Response
Introduction
The Abu Sayyaf group (ASG) emerged in the 1990s and operate as a violent splinter group in the southern Philippines (San Juan 2006, 391). In 1997, the U.S. State Department declared the group a terrorist organisation. However, since 1998 the ASG increasingly carry out criminal acts motivated by financial gain rather than religious ideologies (Council on Foreign Relations 2009; Crowley 2005, 8-12). While the Philippine government and U.S. have made some progress combating terrorism with military operations, other counter-terror measures have met with limited success (Niksch 2002). The following essay will provide a critical analysis of the ASG including geopolitical context and identity; origins, structure, tactics and motivations; and lastly current and future developments in counter-terror measures.
Religious objectives of the Abu Sayyaf
The Abu Sayyaf group (ASG) or “bearer of the sword” in Arabic is one of three major Islamic-based insurgent organisations operating in the Southern Philippines, specifically the rugged terrain of the Sulu archipelago and the island of Mindanao (Council on Foreign Relations 2009; Liss 2007; Crowley 2005, 5; Manalo 2004, 31; Liss 2007). The other two groups are the Moro National Liberation Front (MLNF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) (Gersham ND, 1). Both the ASG and the MILF emerged as splinter groups from the MLNF in 1991 and 1984 respectively. Although the ASG is the smallest of these groups, it is considered to be the most radical (Gersham 2001, 1; Manalo 2004, 31; Schwarz and Morgado-Schwarz 2002; Liss 2007).
The religious objective of the ASG is to create an Islamic state in the Sulu and Mindanao independent of the central Philippine government (Manalo 2004, 31). While Muslims comprise only 5 percent of the population, the overwhelming majority of the Philippine population is Christian (Crowley 2005, 6; Bale 2003, 4; Gersham 2001,
Introduction
The Abu Sayyaf group (ASG) emerged in the 1990s and operate as a violent splinter group in the southern Philippines (San Juan 2006, 391). In 1997, the U.S. State Department declared the group a terrorist organisation. However, since 1998 the ASG increasingly carry out criminal acts motivated by financial gain rather than religious ideologies (Council on Foreign Relations 2009; Crowley 2005, 8-12). While the Philippine government and U.S. have made some progress combating terrorism with military operations, other counter-terror measures have met with limited success (Niksch 2002). The following essay will provide a critical analysis of the ASG including geopolitical context and identity; origins, structure, tactics and motivations; and lastly current and future developments in counter-terror measures.
Religious objectives of the Abu Sayyaf
The Abu Sayyaf group (ASG) or “bearer of the sword” in Arabic is one of three major Islamic-based insurgent organisations operating in the Southern Philippines, specifically the rugged terrain of the Sulu archipelago and the island of Mindanao (Council on Foreign Relations 2009; Liss 2007; Crowley 2005, 5; Manalo 2004, 31; Liss 2007). The other two groups are the Moro National Liberation Front (MLNF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) (Gersham ND, 1). Both the ASG and the MILF emerged as splinter groups from the MLNF in 1991 and 1984 respectively. Although the ASG is the smallest of these groups, it is considered to be the most radical (Gersham 2001, 1; Manalo 2004, 31; Schwarz and Morgado-Schwarz 2002; Liss 2007).
The religious objective of the ASG is to create an Islamic state in the Sulu and Mindanao independent of the central Philippine government (Manalo 2004, 31). While Muslims comprise only 5 percent of the population, the overwhelming majority of the Philippine population is Christian (Crowley 2005, 6; Bale 2003, 4; Gersham 2001,
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