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The Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to pool intelligence and tackle militant financing as fears grow that protracted fighting in a southern Philippine city could be the prelude to an Islamic State (IS) infiltration of the region.
Key points:
- Islamic State presents one the region's worst security threat in decades
- Philippines battle enters its fifth week as experts fear it is part of a much bigger wave
- Extremists from many SE Asian countries are taking part in the Marawi battle
Foreign ministers and defence officials of the three neighbouring countries agreed to work together to share information, track communications, and crack down on the flow of arms, fighters, and money, amid what experts say is the biggest security threat facing South-East Asia in decades.
Despite signs that the rebels battling government forces in Marawi City were on the back foot, authorities are worried that the fighting — now in its fifth week — might be the beginning of a larger wave of violence as the ultra-radical IS group moves to establish a foothold.
Militants holed up in Marawi were cornered and their firepower was flagging, the military said on Thursday, estimating the number of remaining fighters at just over 100, and all within a square-kilometre area.
Malaysia Foreign Minister Anifah Aman told the meeting that extremism needed an immediate response and required constant engagement between the three countries that must come together as a "cohesive unit".
"This is an urgent task that we need to undertake as clearly evidenced through the current situation in Marawi," he said.
"This means our enforcement agencies must constantly engage with one another, not only in intelligence sharing but new active and innovative measures."
Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have launched joint patrols to control militant movements across their archipelagic region.
But experts point to how they have previously failed to work together to prevent festering militancy and banditry from worsening, plagued as they are by mistrust, dormant territorial disputes and limited capabilities.
The Philippines in particular is widely seen as the weaker link.
Islamic State seeking bases outside Iraq, Syria
Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the meeting aimed to revisit existing security programs between the three and draw up a plan to strengthen and implement them.
His country was now a clear target for extremists, he said, and the region only needed to look at how quickly IS managed to recruit fighters and carve out strongholds in Iraq and Syria.
"These jihadists will be looking for land bases or areas outside Iraq and Syria," Mr Cayetano said.
"Everyone has their vulnerability, no-one is perfect.
"If other countries have nationals in Marawi and Mindanao and are extremists, they are as much a threat to their home country as here."
A Philippine officer, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Tampus, said troops were blocking escape routes out of Marawi and rebels were hemmed-in and using civilians dressed in black as human shields.
"Our forces are coming from the east and the north and we are blocking the three bridges," he said.
Mr Tampus said the militant snipers were firing from "strategic nests" in schools and mosques, and their bombs were hampering his troops' operations.
Malaysia is worried that militants could flee to its eastern state of Sabah — it currently has a wanted list that includes two militants who spearheaded the attempt to capture Marawi.
They are a leader of the Abu Sayyaf group, Isnilon Hapilon, who was proclaimed by IS last year as its "emir" of South-East Asia, and Abdullah Maute, whose followers accounted for a large number of the estimated 400-500 fighters who overran parts of Marawi, killing Christians, and taking dozens of civilians hostage.
According to official estimates, 369 people have been killed, three-quarters of them militants. The number of security forces and civilians killed stood at 67 and 26, respectively.
Reuters
Topics: terrorism, unrest-conflict-and-war, philippines, indonesia, malaysia, asia
First posted