Spralty Islands 2.06?

Spratly Islands “pirate attack” could mean Flashpoint 2.0?

A Chinese ship was attacked in the Spratly islands last week; 4 fishermen were killed- the three survivors who returned to Hainan, spoke of a Philippine vessel and a “Pirate attack” while reports say they were in the southern reaches of the islands.

The area is a major highway of world trade and where 70 per cent of Japan and china’s oil passes though china has set up dozens of small forts in the reefs and islets

It also is major smuggling and drug trans-shipment point in Asia as well as a area where pirate attacks have been on an upsurge. Reports from monitors point to some 2,000 pirate and hijacking attacks in the stretch of seas from Mindanao to Malaysia’s Malacca straights.

The general view of people there is this is Pirate attack and may have al qaeda or extremists ties, since 2005 scores of pirate attacks have raised concerns over safety in the region.

After the 2005 firebombing of a Manila ferry - and a half dozen bombing attacks on inter-island ships - perhaps a closer look at a “flashpoint” sparked by terrorism is needed.

Could a third or fourth player be trying to create something in a regional area that could be influenced by ‘heightened tension’, The belligerency has come down a in terms of the hair trigger days of the 1980’s-1990’s out there. A editorial puts it in a US perspective; should the situation become more tense Washington as a treaty ally of four of seven claimants could be drawn into any conflict because of security obligations.

” Washington cannot afford to have those sea lanes blocked or closed. The US needs an ally to keep an eye on Chinese activities in the Spratlys. Its best bet is the Philippines, which maintains a foothold on the contested islands through a military presence on Kalayaan Island.” The Manila Times reports. “

No one can afford at this time of high energy costs another threat to the flow of energy in the region - if two sources of threat exist in the SE Asia shipping area from the Malacca’s to the Palawan passage - then indeed there is greater need for regional coordination. Joint patrols in the Malacca’s perhaps should spread and the ideal of regional security force at sea for ASEAN perhaps in partnership with major players China, Japan, the US, and the regional security forum needs a greater look into.

All reports from China point to pirates, not naval forces, they spoke of some armed men some in uniform most in camouflage, the Philippine Navy nor marines do not wear - those at sea- fatigues maybe but not Cammie’s while at sea.

The rerst according to media reports from southern china were in civilain attire. The most likely culprit lies in criminal gangs, smugglers, or, groups affilated with the Insurgency in the Southern Philippines.

I still say the last group is the most likely suspect- as criminal bands would be less likely to leave anyone alive to tell of the insident. So the entire thing seems to be a message or announcement of the “pirates” presence. Something is here that is strange- and growing- with rumblings from China of other attacks reported in the area.

May 8th, 2006 Posted by mikeinmanila | Uncategorized, news, News and politics, pirates, china, asia, terrorism, Views, war, philippines, immigration, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., al qaeda, Palawan, war on teror, abu sayyaf, fil-am, filipino-american, Jemaah Islamiah

ABC virus affecting philippine ethics

Am reposting in full an article - I rarely do this - but it is a good read! A virus in need a cure a major need of a cure for what is described as an uncontroled outbreak epidemic level problem.


http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?page=news&id=1527&sid=1&urldate=2006-05-09

'ABC' bugging Philippine media

by : Hector Lawas

GOVERNMENT’s repeated assurances notwithstanding, the media industry in the Philippines continues to face the dangers of “anxiety, bribery and corruption” or ABC.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz lamented that the Philippine media has no armed forces to protect itself yet has become the declared enemy of those in power and influence.

“Notwithstanding the vindication of media through the relevant unconstitutionality of certain offshoots of 1017, the air is still far from being safe and secure for media to breathe freely and feel easy. There remains an authoritarian threat in the air. And there comes the founded anxiety of media,” he said in his web log.

He said it is not a secret that many media practitioners in the Philippines continue to worry where to get money for food, shelter and clothing.

Such anxiety makes them vulnerable to bribes from persons in power and influence “who gladly pay anyone and anything to stay where they are and enjoy what they have,” he said.

The prelate said said there remains the pervasive curse of corruption in the country that is swallowing up even otherwise honest, fair and just media outlets and practitioners.

“It is amazing how contagious is corruption in the country. In fact, there is already a growing number of young professionals who start early in being corrupt —- which happily, is a marked exception among young idealistic journalists together with their well principled elder media co-workers,” he said.

Peoples Journal
5/9/2006 17:43 PM

Estrada: US intel sent to him was all media clippings?

Estrada: : US intel was media gossip?

Estrada: US intel sent to him was all media clippings?

The words speak volumes for the information the US government sought to almost send a FBI analyst to the death chamber for- but relented to lower sentence of a long prison term.

According to former President Joseph Estrada, when informed the US government prosecutors had reached plea bargain deal with Lean Arangoncillo - in his "Spy case" in Washington DC.

Estrada told newspapers in the Philippines;

" For his part, Estrada maintained the information he received from Aragoncillo were public knowledge. "

So what does this tell you about the level of US intel in the country.

"Let me just say that when this case first made the local papers, I readily admitted that I received e-mails from Mr. Aragoncillo which I believe were not confidential because this information was mostly culled from local newspaper clippings," Estrada told. the Philippine Star...

"There was nothing secret about this information (from Aragoncillo) which dealt mostly with political developments in the Philippines, and everyone had access to those media reports," he added.

In hindsight knowing from having interviewed this man - that when quickly asked questions on issues Estrada does not very often mince words. In a simple way he has given insight to something though - that US intel is feed and fueled by media reports and public domain information. Ergo- the intel was not that good…. so if the information was so sensitive as to force this man out and perhaps put him in Leavenworth for the next decade or so.

What does it tell you about the information the FBI and White House has on the country? Also what about other parts of the world?

OK, he may not even know it - but "Erap" may have just let out a assessment of Intel capabilities without intending to. No wonder they never indicted these guys it would have shown just another case of how bad US intel has beenon sensitive information.

May 7th, 2006 Posted by mikeinmanila | Uncategorized, news, News and politics, health, china, asia, Views, war, philippines, immigration, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., war on teror, fil-am, filipino-american

3 wounded in Jolo attack

A team of gunmen raided an outpost in Jolo in the Southern Philippines; reports say the unidentified men may have been part of ongoing KFR and bandit acticity in the southern province. Sun-Star has the story flled from Zambo.
" ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Two government soldiers and a civilian were seriously wounded when an unidentified gunman attacked them in the southern island of Jolo, a known stronghold of the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, officials said on Saturday. "

LAWYERS group pledges to assist in fight vs. NPA - REPORT...

LAWYERS group pledges to assist in fight vs. NPA - REPORT

Report from ABS-CBNnews.com

" CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - An interagency legal action group has been created to complement the government’s military offensive against Filipino communists.
"The move is made to answer the clamor of the military that captured leaders of the communist movement easily get out of jail due to the absence of a warrant of arrest and the help of their lawyers," National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said. "

I wonder how bore them into submission by reading the law review out loud on a soundsystem beamed into the hills?

Jump into the Sea? Poor sharks... (lawyer joke)

Nice try... every little bit helps to restore peace.

But where lawyers could do the most good really... is in fighting injustice that often leads to those who chose the lawless path when justice fails... maybe thats what they have in mind.
lets see... can't resist the jump into the sea joke though...

WHO: "get the world ready for a pandemic."

Warning about Bird flu have anew been raised in the World Health Organizations head; UN health organizations medical staff are also warnings that there is a strong need to revitalize human public health care.
In part they blame in the West "the decades of privatisation and handing over health care to huge HMO's and Health Service providers." tasks that governments had been in charge of may be endangering populations.

There is a lot of information online in the USA:

Avian influenza virus usually refers to influenza A viruses found chiefly in birds, but infections can occur in humans. The risk is generally low to most people, because the viruses do not usually infect humans. However, confirmed cases of human infection have been reported since 1997.…more

Visit the official U.S. government website for pandemic influenza

Information is also available from the WHO:

WHO is coordinating the global response to human cases of H5N1 avian influenza and monitoring the corresponding threat of an influenza pandemic. Information on this page tracks the evolving situation and provides access to both technical guidelines and information useful for the general public.

Latest information

5 May 2006
Avian influenza – situation in Egypt - update 7
Full text

5 May 2006
Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO
Full text

19 April 2006
Aide-Memoire: Infection control recommendations for avian influenza
Full text

Your best defense is information -
philippines news-and-politics

Philippines to file charges versus Aragoncillo conspirators

In a move many expected with the admission of in court of Lean Aragoncillo of role in gathering information for plotters in the attempts to depose Philippine President Arroyo in a coup;

The recipients of the information in the Philippines may be facing rebellion charges in the wake of the former FBI officers role in providing possible information the plotters used in planning and laying out their efforts to grab power.

A report from the Philippine Star; which interviewed Estrada in his detention center in Tanay, Rizal by phone where he is under house arrest; reports:

"Former President Joseph Estrada shrugged off yesterday the admission of Leandro Aragoncillo, "Why single me out? I was not the only one who was given copies (by Aragoncillo)," Estrada pointed out. He said the so-called "confidential information" that Aragoncillo forwarded to him; were the same as those received by Parañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and former Isabela congressman Rodolfo Albano. "But I’m ready to face anyone,"

The Other major daily here in Manila the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported:

" OUSTED PRESIDENT JOSEPH Estrada yesterday denied any role in a US espionage case dealing with alleged theft of classified documents," the Philippine Department of Justice is looking into the court case closely to seel if he was "clean." The Philippine Daily Inquirer reprots on it's website. " Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the government would file rebellion charges against Estrada, Sen. Panfilo Lacson and others if there was evidence that the espionage case involving a Filipino-American in the United States was linked to plots to unseat President Macapagal-Arroyo."

"Any case filed here will strengthen the case there,'' Gonzalez told the Daily Inquirer, in reaction to a plea bargain filed in Court by former Federal Bureau of Investigation intelligence analyst and White House Marine Guard Leandro Aragoncillo. "Estrada told the Inquirer the information he got from Aragoncillo was not classified and dealt with matters of public knowledge."

May 6th, 2006 Posted by mikeinmanila | Uncategorized, philippines, immigration, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., fil-am, filipino-american

JI in Indonesia a update

ICG say’s Noordin Top - “JI” leader running out of money, support, &, people; Yet still a threat

A recent police action in Indonesia and serious efforts have been able to cast a shadow over the Asia wing of Jemaah Islamiah so a report from the International Crisis group claims,

"behaviour following Bali II suggests he is running short of money and experienced cadres. The loss on 29 April of the men who served as both couriers and recruiters has to be a significant blow. The Wonosobo raid was a triumph for the police, and Noordin’s arrest will be an even greater one." - ICG report
How ever the report points out that there is still a lot of work needed to done to ensure networks and group ties are swayed away from the extreme towards the mainstream.

Ji remains a potent terror force in part because of extensive family and other ties that stretches across Indonesia, Malaysia, S. Thailand and Mindanao in the Philippines.

Spectacular terror attacks and Iraq like IED bombings has "turned off" most of the moderates in the movement for the high loss of life among locals and not the targets intended victims, lading to fractured group less organized and more compartmentalized but as such still deadly.The hardcore remnants seems eager to create further chaos; and destruction, but also want to see larger alliances from more mainstream and moderate groups as well.

" Terrorism in Indonesia: Noordin’s Networks,* the latest briefing from the International Crisis Group, examines how Noordin has used personal networks, based around an inner circle of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members but gradually expanding beyond them, to build a following committed to al-Qaeda style attacks – even though many in JI disapproved. “Noordin may think of himself as JI, but since the 2003 Marriott bombing, he has been running his own show that is seen as a deviant splinter by many in the JI mainstream,” says Sidney Jones, Crisis Group’s South East Asia Project Director in Jakarta." http://www.crisisgroup.org

The website has extensive reports and research on the Jemaah Islamiah; focused more on Indonesia. But provides insight for Philippine leaders on that side of the War versus extremists in the region.

May 6th, 2006 Posted by mikeinmanila | Uncategorized, News and politics, pirates, china, asia, terrorism, Views, war, philippines, immigration, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., al qaeda, war on teror, abu sayyaf, filipino-american, Jemaah Islamiah

US DOJ Statement on Arragoncillo case -

Am posting the full press release of US DOJ through PR News wire on the Arrangoncillo case:

Contact: Michael Drewniak of U.S. Dept. of Justice, (number deleted on request)
NEWARK, N.J., May 4 /U.S. Newswire/ — A former Marine who worked at times under two administrations in the Office of the Vice President of the United States pleaded guilty today to espionage and other charges, admitting that he took and transferred classified information, including national defense documents, to senior political and government officials of the Republic of the Philippines in an attempt to destabilize and overthrow that country's government, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie of the District of New Jersey announced today.

Leandro Aragoncillo, 47, admitted that he regularly transferred to his hilippine contacts national security documents classified as Secret, and that the information could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation. He also admitted traveling to the Philippines in January 2001 to meet his co-conspirators, including during a visit to the Malacanang Palace, the official residence of the president of the Philippines.

Aragoncillo also admitted that some of the classified information he removed from of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) between approximately October 2000 and February 2002 included information marked "Top Secret" that related to terrorist threats to United States government interests in the Republic of the Philippines (ROP).

Aragoncillo, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in the Philippines and most recently of Woodbury, N.J., was an FBI intelligence analyst at Fort Monmouth, N.J. at the time of his arrest on Sept. 10, 2005. He admitted today that his espionage activity continued during his time as an FBI analyst.

"Aragoncillo took the most solemn of oaths as a U.S. Marine and FBI analyst to protect his country and its security," said U.S. Attorney Christie. "His betrayal is profound and a disservice to his country and all the men and women in military and security positions around the globe who take the oath and serve with honor and integrity."

Also arrested last September was Michael Ray Aquino, a former Philippines National Police official, who was among those who Aragoncillo is alleged to have passed classified information. Aragoncillo specifically identified Aquino today as a co- conspirator in the transfer of classified documents and information.

Aquino, who remains in federal custody, was indicted on Oct. 6, 2005 and charged with conspiring in the passing of classified information to current and former officials in the Philippines. No date has been scheduled for Aquino's trial due to extensive pretrial discovery.

Aragoncillo pleaded guilty to four counts of an indictment returned today by a federal grand jury. Count one charged him with conspiracy to transmit national defense information; count two charged him with transmission of national defense information. The maximum penalty for both of those crimes is death under certain circumstances — including the transfer of secrets that result in the death of an intelligence source — that are not present in the case of Aragoncillo. Consequently, the maximum statutory penalty on those counts for Aragoncillo is any term of years up to life in prison.

Count three charges Aragoncillo with unlawful retention of national defense information, and count four charges him with unlawful use of a government computer, both of which carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

In the indictment and during his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls, Aragoncillo's co-conspirators were identified as Executive Branch Official No. 1, a senior member of the executive branch of the ROP from June 1998 through January 2001; Senator No. 1, who has served in the Philippine Senate since June 2001 and was formerly the head of the Philippines National Police; Representative No. 1, who served in the Philippines House of Representatives between about 1998 and 2001 and again in 2004; Representative No. 2, who served in the Philippines House of Representatives between 1992 and 2001, and again in 2004; Mayor No. 1, who is a mayor of one of the municipalities located near Metro Manila; and Aquino.

Aragoncillo admitted his contacts began on July 27, 2000, when a delegation of public officials from the Philippines — including Executive Branch Official No. 1 and Representative No. 1 — met with the President of the United States at the White House. Aragoncillo was then a staff assistant to the Vice President's Military Advisors and possessed a Top Secret security clearance.

Aragoncillo said that Representative No. 1 contacted him in or about October 2000, and requested information about the U.S. government's views about the Philippines. Aragoncillo stated that Representative No. 1 appealed to his sense of loyalty to the Philippines and its people in requesting the information. As a result of Representative No. 1's appeals, Aragoncillo agreed to begin supplying Representative No. 1 with national security- classified documents and information.

From that time forward, and continuing through his service with the OVP and the FBI, Aragoncillo admitted to gathering and providing classified documents and information to Executive Official No. 1, Senator No. 1 and the other co-conspirators.

Aragoncillo also admitted that in telephone, e-mail and text message exchanges with Senator No. 1, he advised that the information he was transferring would be useful in assisting Senator No. 1 and his associates in their attempts to destabilize and overthrow the president and government of the Philippines. In one telephone conversation, for example, Aragoncillo admitted that he told Senator No. 1 that the documents were like a "blueprint" on how to engineer a coup. In response, Aragoncillo said that Senator No. 1 told him that the document was "a good reference" and that Senator No. 1 "would print it because we are preparing something like this."

Among other specific admissions by Aragoncillo:

– That on Jan. 12, 2001, he met Executive Branch Official No. 1 at the Malacanang Palace.

– That on June 1, 2001, he gathered classified "Situation Reports" from the OVP, and transmitted them to Representative No. 1.

– That on April 17, 2001, and Jan. 29 and Feb. 6, 2002, he gathered documents classified "Top Secret" and "Secret," respectively, containing national defense information relating to terrorist threats to U.S. government interests in the ROP and exercises involving the U.S. military in the Philippines.

– That he sought positions with the FBI, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency, to gain access to classified documents and information that would be useful to his co-conspirators.

– That beginning in September 2004, he began gathering classified documents from FBI computers located at Fort Monmouth relating to the ROP, and thereafter he transmitted classified documents and information to his co-conspirators until his arrest on September 10, 2005.

– That from approximately January to April 2005, he transmitted by e-mail approximately 30 documents classified "Secret" and "Confidential" to Senator No. 1 and Aquino, including documents containing national defense information.

– That on Feb. 28 and Aug. 4, 2005, and on other occasions, he transmitted documents to his contacts containing classified information about confidential intelligence sources of the U.S. government.

– That approximately two weeks before his arrest, on Aug. 25, 2005, he sought to return to his position as a Staff Assistant in the OVP.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Leslie Wiser, Jr., in Newark, N.J., for their investigation of the espionage case.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karl H. Buch and Michael Buchanan, of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division, and Clifford I. Rones, senior trial attorney, U.S. Department of Justice in Washington.

Lean Aragoncillo - enter guilty plea to leaking information to Destabalizers

Claiming he felt he was helping only ... did not name those he sent information to- further he did it while still in the Blair House and later at FBI.

Story www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/breaking_news/14501358.htm

- " A former FBI intelligence analyst pleaded guilty Thursday to passing classified information to plotters allegedly trying to overthrow Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo."

5 Pinoys rescued in S. Atlantic sinking more missing

From Johannesburg:

A report on the status of search and rescue operations for a sunken Greek flagged bulk carrier "Four of five life rafts spotted by a rescue aircraft searching for missing crew of the Alexandros T were found to be empty, said search-and-rescue officials on Thursday."
So far four life rafts have been found; SAPA goes onto report that - "One person was rescued from a life raft around 10:00 bringing the total of crew rescued to seven." Reports further identify five of the survivors as Filipino but go on to say that many among the 26 men among the crew of the vessel have yet be found in the freezing waters of the South Atlantic.
"five of the survivors are Philippines nationals, one Romanian and the nationality of the last one is not yet known."

Dagerous Ground: The spratly's name on the maps so apt

No other small chain of Islands in the South China sea is so rightly named on international nautical charts. The charts call the area off of the Palawan Passage "Dangerous Ground" and not only for the reefs hidden shoals and sandbars that suddenly pop up out of the area.

Fishermen from as far away as Japan, Cambodia, and, Thailand make the run to this far off group of islets and reefs so teeming with fish and resources that at some places the fish jump into boats on their own! That's not a fish tale! I once was out in the eastern portion of this area and saw a small school of fish; perhaps being chased by another set of fish jump into our boat in the area.

For the Philippines it is the KCI; The Kalayaan chain of islands. It is the Western portion of the Province of Palawan; Yes, province of Palawan. there is town there with a mayor, a post office, about fifty small buildings, a small runway a tiny port, even a semi school building, and a runway that can accommodate a C130 cargo plane. There is cell site now being planned I hear and a Bayantel RCPI calling station and a loyal group of fans for Dream Cable Satellite TV!

It is part of the first Congressional district, it is a huge maritime resource for the people of that province. It is also where around 25% of the Philippines ocean based food supply is from and needs a active presence for the protection of the area.

Beyond stories of Oil and Natural gas beneath the sands and rocks on the bottom, it is a vital area of Food Security in a dwindling ocean of supply and demand. Growing populations in the regions fishermen know it is a major area that needs protection and development.

I have been there, many times, I have heard the stories, I have seen the busted vessels and on occasion seen the evidence of the portions of it that are lawless and the presence of troops and marines from rival nations in the area are actually a welcome site for the victims of pirates and others who make their living in the rough seas and shoals.

In 1992, after tension rose in the area, over the sudden presence of Chinese prefabricated buildings on Mischief reef, And a incident that many people learned about when a group of fishermen from Padre Burgos, Quezon led by Daniel Alipustahin, were rounded up, detained and allegedly beaten up by chinese PLA Navy Seabee's who were screaming about something, a few had bloody ears. It seems some had been blast fishing and Alipustahin group was detained to check if they had been rap-tap-taping on the reef while the Chinese underwater team was in the water constructing footings for the small "fisheries" shelters on the reef.

Aliputahin, had made the report to a small coast guard detachment in the town of Quezon Palawan, what worried the local coast guard was where the incident had occurred, less than 90 nautical miles off -shore. The Chinese had built a set of shelters right near a reef the towns fishermen regularly made their living off of. I like many other reporters there went down the coast from Puerto Princesa and rented a boat to see for ourselves after about ten hours you could see a few ships near the reef. The ships were huge, compared to us and clearly Navy Hazy Grey. We went back to the port, went up to Puerto Princesa and filed our news reports.

I sent in a report to the people I watched the news for in Manila; Chari Villa, who was then ABS-CBN's assignments desk manager; immediately dispatched a team on the company king air plane to Palawan. And so for about two weeks the place and story became my first major coverage with ABS-CBN's special reports group correspondent Henry Omaga Diaz.

Henry's landing was perfect timing, as he flew in so did the first elements of the PAF Fifth fighter wing out of Basa Airbase, a few F-5A fighters and some other aircraft were landing.
The images were sent out to Manila, a few interviews were done, the headlines showed the Philippines had deployed it's only offensive strike aircraft to the Antonio Bautista airbase.

Poof! crisis Spratly was born and people were waiting for anything. Although no one liked our reporting at the Western Command least of all the then WESCOM commander whose high blood pressure curdling screams were a major headache for his staff.

He had been given the Command assignment so he could move up the ladder to a higher post at GHQ; but no General in the post WW2 history of the Armed Forces of the Philippines assigned to the Western Command had ever lost a portion to Philippine territory before needless to say after the incident; he didn't really have a high spot on the promotions lists and retired.

The shelters have grown, the reports say lot more ships visit the area now and fishermen from Quezon Town do on occasion go near the area and are pretty much left alone so long as they do not approach or try to enter the reef; whose shoal provides protection against foul seas. But not for fishermen from the closest town to the shelters and the place where Chinese on the structures could escape the boredom in nearby Palawan is both unlikely and unseen. Even with the “Joint Agreement” of the regional forum of claimant nations and China.

One view I found on the islands importance is summed up below other than "vast fishing grounds:"

Another is the trade flow there.

"The Spratly islands takes in the shipping traffic, that passes the Streets of Malacca, Sunda and Lambok on and represents a very important interface between the Indian Sea and The Pacific Ocean. It is a maritime highway for the raw material and product traffic from the Asia, the Near East, Europe and Africa. The area of Spratlys is passed by:

more than a quarter of the entire shipping traffic of the world (approx. 300 big ships per day)

30 % of the world trade

48 % of the Japanese commerce as well as a high part of the merchandise of and to South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia

70 % of the Japanese crude oil imports

Next: Pirates, Smugglers, Sharks, &, Thieves:

spratly events are not always as they seem...

Philippines Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita; has cautioned Chinese officials against assuming that the attackers were Filipinos in the Spratly incident.

He's right- other nations and groups have done this using another countries ships to scare off fishermen from an area they want to do something in.

Even China did this; So has Vietnam in the Parcel islands in the early 80's when they went to small unit naval action in the area over a much larger group of islands north of the Spratly's.
a regualr game of "tag" whith each side used "Q-boat" tactics to scare off the other sides fishermen.

And Indonesian & Malaysian Bahasa and Tagalog can sound alike to people who have not heard the Malay languages before. Just as Vietnamese, Taiwanese, and, Hainan dialects can all sound strange to Philippine fishermen who encounter each other at sea.

But one thing is clear; the vessel flew no flag, used a smaller "speed boat" and had no or few markings, its looking more and more like a 'outlaw attack' unless it is some specail forces 'game' ; pirates or another armed groups from the many countries there in the area.

The were using "Basnig" vessels as described in the Chinese report - then it is highly unlikely to be" suspect" of anyone's scrutiny but Filipino suspects. Why? because only the Philippines has fishing vessels that look the way a Basnig does - with huge outriggers and its low silhouette and fast speed in calm seas compared to other more traditional mono-hull fishing vessels of the other claimants. If it were a "Kumpit" or mono-hulled wooden ship common also in the South then anew any of the other countires could be involved.

The reports from China are however a vessel with outriggers.

BUT; Could it be another of claimants or outlaw groups playing a deadly game to put the blame on the Philippines? Who and why? Who has complained recently about rebuilding facilities in the South China Sea Islands of the municipality of Kalayaan or freedom land.
Also who stands to gain if instability were anew to exist in the Spratly chain.

I must admit; all of this is only a theory- but- it is one needing a look into also along with the terror plot idea.

I know all too well the undeclared "no man's zone" that exists there in certain parts of the area near Palawan. I've covered it, been there in it, arranged media missions to cover things there, and been out there in small boats.

During fishing season it is not unheard of that people who get hijacked, A cargo of fish, a good catch can be a haul worth over $15,000 in a small sized basinig or trawler.
So its not unheard of for a slow heavily laden vessel to have a crew get "jumped" thrown overboard and or have vessels get into fire-fights over fishing grounds.

And I'm just talking about the fishermen fights here; not even the other groups;

"Free-traders" or smugglers also use the area in bulk; one of the largest ever hauls of Heroin smuggling captured in the USA came off a tip from local customs people in Palawan who got the tip from fishermen who saw cargo being transferred from one vessel to another at sea.

You name it, small motorbikes, electronics, cigarettes, clothing, dvd's, people- also drugs, guns, and anything else; that can fit into a small ship are commonly smuggled and trans-shipped here; methamphetamine or shabu is also common and also other contraband.

When ever we would go that far out before We'd always convince a 'off duty' maritime policemen, or even those from the Navy to tag along. Other fishermen often bring M1 Garand bearing militiamen or cafgu men, why, because it is not unheard of to meet Pirates or thieves or highjackers out there.

Before the runway at Kalayaan could accommodate c130's anew - the journey to the islands was done mostly by either Navy Islander or Nomad aircraft. Or PCF naval patrol vessel or the slow way a LST or slower still a fishing boat.

Another thing comes to mind; I remember a old incident many are not aware of way back in the 1970's a group of Filipino sailors and marines were dressed up like Vietnamese and went out in the area looking for smugglers.

The group was accompanied by a then Palawan congressman who told me about it; His son is now the local representative; Anyway; the group he was with went around the area in a Vietnamese fishing boat pretending to be Vietnamese in order to check on reports of the Chinese PLA and Kuomintang China Navy harassing fishing boats in the area.

They stumbled into a war zone of sorts! When the group’s other vessel was captured he was set to make a privileged speech to congress and expose the ongoing battle zone to the world.

He never got a chance; he was called into the Speakers chambers after he had presented his draft and rushed over to Malacanyang where with a smile on his face he was told not talk about it; the men who were captured had seized the island they were held at; they were a Philippine Navy special warfare team.

The capture was ruse to gain intelligence and eventually bribe the communist countries small garrison into defecting to the west. It worked; the small reef is now part of the Kalayaan area; the man who told me the story in 1990 was the late speaker Ramon Mitra; the President he told me said not to spill the beans was Ferdinand Marcos.

He told me back then don’t think the events out there are always as they seem; the islands small rocks and reefs are almost worthless; the location, known marine wealth and rumors of oil and natural gas make it Asia’s chess board and all nations play the game 24/7 to control the area.

philippines news-and-politics , mikeinmanila Uncategorized, News and politics, pirates, News Of China, china, asia, terrorism, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., al qaeda, war on teror, abu sayyaf

ASG - JI "strike team" believed to have slipped out of capital

Report says the six man squad may have left the Captial; but police say they may be looking for other "soft targets" ;
Meanwhile reports filtering out of the Municipality of Kalayaan say Chinese Naval patrols have stepped up thier presence near and around the area after the report of four chinese fishermen having been killed three days ago.
3 survivors of a "pirate" attack claim the assialants numbered around 14 men and were aboard philippine type of fishing vessel but also had a small speed boat.
The men spoke to them in English and also what sounded like southern philippine dialect to each other.
Authorities from both countries are checking into the reports.

Abu Sayyaf ?suspects in Attack on Chinese Fisherman off Palawan

South China Sea Pirate Attack needs another look….

“The ‘Southern Metropolitan Daily’ in Hainan reports that four Chinese fishermen were killed in a Pirate attack of the coast of Islands of the disputed “Spratly Chain” of islands near the Philippine island province of Palawan.” - WIRES

When I saw this report on the wires and the ABS-CBN website it may to view of most who see these kinds of raids and robberies to be just another attack.

Men in a small swift vessel hitting a fishing boat on the seas of the rich fishing grounds of the South China Sea;

Then one looks at the area and see's something.

They didn't take the vessel.

They left men alive.

They took radio's, communications gear, and money.

They kiiled four and then let the rest go after running the vessel a few hours.

The group was well armed – they hit the target; they got the items they needed and moved on; after taking some things of value to them off the ship.

What makes this different you might think? Having covered Pirate attacks and missing vessels in the area for now going on two decades pirate attacks follow one age old tradition -

Dead men tell no tales.

Typically the Pirates of the Sulu, Suluwesi, South China Sea, do not let those they encounter get away.

Pirates, don't leave anything behind or anyone, they scuttle and strip everything off of vessels.

In the opinion of people familiar with the situation there;
"This was either business rivalry fight over a rich fishing ground area - or- smugglers who don't want another vessel in an area they were using, and, lastly. Seeing a pattern to these strange attacks - hit and run - almost like "practice missions" the main suspect are Maritime Terror groups in the area.” - A senior retired Naval Officer now a Military Analyst warns.

Perhaps the most notorious of these, was a shadowy group in the area that; in the late 1980's- 1990's was organized to scare away foreign fishing vessels from the shores of a Southern Philippine Province.

A group that may be coming back; and with a vengeance; attempting to carry out a much more deadly attack against bigger targets.

Increasingly is seen by Naval forces in the area as part of the growing "Maritime Terror " tactics of a group that in the `1990's carried out a number of attacks like this to announce their presence. "The Bearer of the Sword" is the englsih name.

That group, originally formed to scare off "foreign" fishing vessels from the seas around the Sulu Archipelago, did things like this, boarding, striping vessels, taking some crew members and freeing the rest. So the name would move on to others.

The group had its roots in the Separatist Insurgency of Mindanao;

It called itself "Al Harakatul Al Islamyia," the name, is one of many who have covered them know; But to most people the type of attack is well known to people of the Southern Philippines Eastern Malaysia and Central North Eastern Indonesian Borneo.

The group that I am refering to is; known more as the ASG, the Abu Sayyaf Group.

They have hit in the Moro Gulf, the Mindanao Sea, the Davao Gulf, the Sulu Sea, and off the coast of Borneo. They are rumored to have similar groups in other parts of region, with similar names.

But the Spratly's? Yes, they are known for "activities" as well there.

Albeit not so well covered and reported as the more spectacular attacks they have carried out before..

It would be a good thing to find more information on the report.

The types of weapons, the language spoken by the pirates; It is something; considering attacks in other parts of the region at around the same time frame should be looked into. There have also been several mysterious incidents in the area ; several reports of vessels gone with a trace of wreakage.

I am sure this all being looked into; But, I am wondering - if considering the timing we might be hearing more about this soon.

philippines news-and-politics

News Of China, News and politics, pirates, china, asia, terrorism, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., al qaeda, war on teror, abu sayyaf

Report speaks of ewarl;ier blog I put up last night- sources of mine on Palawan report WESCOM in Palawan are alerted to report and are investigating:

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE REPORT/

RP boat tagged in deadly attack on Chinese fisherme
BEIJING- A Philippine boat is believed to be behind an attack on a Chinese fishing vessel in the South China Sea that ended with four crew members dead and three wounded, state press said Tuesday.

"The incident occurred close to the Philippines and the boat that attacked the fishing boat... resembled a Philippine boat," the Southern Daily newspaper reported, citing crew members aboard the Chinese fishing boat.

The attack occurred Thursday last week in the disputed Spratly Islands when people from the unidentified boat sprayed the fishing vessel with sub-machine gun fire and boarded the craft.

Four crew members were killed in the attack, with the assailants stealing the boat's navigational and electronic equipment.

"Of the 13 pirates who boarded the fishing boat, most were under the age of 30, six of them wore camouflage clothes while the other seven were casually dressed," the fishermen told the newspaper.

"The attack appeared to be organized."

The report gave no other details to back up its assertion that the boat resembled one from the Philippines.

The Chinese boat, the Jinghai 03012, has since returned to its home base on China's southern Hainan island with the three wounded crew members in a stable condition, the paper said.

According to the Beijing Youth Daily, China's foreign ministry has called for an immediate investigation into the killings and urged countries neighboring the South China Sea to ensure the "personal safety of Chinese fishermen engaged in normal work".

The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs that are claimed partially or entirely by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. AFP

Malls. Parks and resort hotels on JI hitlist

A Report from the Philippine government to media today they say they have foiled a plot by a combined Abu Sayyaf - Jemaah Islamiah team and it's Al Qaeda funders to attack protests and rallies on May Day in Manila.

The bombings had been planned; using hand M67 fragmentation granades that have a injury radius of 50meters.

The grenades attacks were supposed to be carried out by a six man "strike team" of ASG-JI members who had planned to sow chaos. The plan was the hand grenades into the protest crowds; and the plan; was to blow up a second set of devices if a stampeded ensued use a series of IED's to create further mayhem.

the plan is still a threat idea - that is why the PNP wisely went out and talked behind the scenes to protest organizers; behind the scenes to warn them of the JI-ASG plot and asked their Marshall's to be "aware" of the plot. It seems to have worked- strangers were not allowed close to rally organizers and stages - people have to realize there are third and fourth wing elements who want to see violence erupt on the streets to create a shortwave to stir the mostly silent masses and middle class and provoke a more repressive response from the present Government.

Documents and communications chatter monitored indicates that the Asia wing of the Al Qaeda group is hard pressed to prove to its Middle Eastern backers; that they can open a second front in Asia and take pressure off of fighters in Iraq. Millions in support fund have been sent out; some from those backing Al Qaeda - others- from new sponsors; who are seeking more distractions for those wanting a to make the SE Asia theater a larger more violent area in this on-going "near WW3" that is happening around the globe,

The greatest concern by those in the middle east is also to derail and divert attention from successful programs "counter insurgent" of the RP, US, EU, and, Australia in the Philippine provinces of Basilan and Jolo.

The programs designed by the Philippine Government and funded and supported by the Allies vs. Al Qaeda have had a large measure of success.

The strike teams are also out in Mindanao itself; in an effort to derail or end Peaceful resolution of the Islamic separatist insurgency in the Southern Philippines through peace talks.sponsored by the USA and brokered by Malaysia with the majority of Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The raiding team led by Nelson Yabit, Sr. inspector PNP-CIDG; at a home in Marikina City last week recovered CD's computer disks and maps

Reuters in a report says more threats are feared ongoing;

"active threats" to bomb shopping malls and public parks in cities such as Cagayan de Oro, Davao, General Santos and Zamboanga.Police believe attacks are being planned by Khaddafy Janjalani, the Abu Sayyaf leader who is believed to be hiding on the southwestern island of Jolo, and Indonesian militants Dulmatin and Umar Patek, key suspects in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people."

philippines news-and-politics

No mouse in the House!

If there ever was a virus that could be created to do worst damage possible to humans using XP Pro it may have hit me today. Or perhaps in my carelessness, I struck a master delete stroke and I deleted the folder, or someone else, using my computer id.
I still can't figure it out or how, but somehow, my driver file for my mouse is gone from my system.

I stared at my PC trying to remember all the hot keys. I hit F1 for help; then grabbed the mouse to look for a topic. Okay, nothing. Now what?! So I did the old Alt-Tab to shift between windows. I went to Ctrl-Alt-Del to go to Task Manager. I tabbed and tabbed, shifted and shifted but nothing happened. I did the piano on F-keys, i banged away in every combination possible, mixed with all the Alts, Ctrl, Shifts that would have made Beethoven proud; it finally brought down a tab.

Since I had hit so many keys, I tried to remember what to do next so I did an old thing I used to do with my older windows 3.1 (or was it 2.5 or 5.0?!). I hit the key to minimize. It shut down my PC, saving all the setting for whatever piece of keyboard strokes I had done in the process!

I called our resident geek-of-this-condo; he came in after the PC rebooted and powered up. Took one look at my settings and ran screaming down the hallway. I don't know what I had done but there was this screen saying Missile Launch Confirmed. Have a nice day. The rest was in Hindi... oh well...

Another friend got in touch; he told me, no problem - hit Win-M to minimize and Win-D to display a window. Cool... I only had about 170 windows. And half of them flashing with the words ‘funds transferred’ and ‘funds deleted’, and all in Russian - something else I couldn’t understand. So I hit Ok, Ok, Ok.

Then the Power went off and stream of black vans came up the driveway.
No, it wasn't me. They were there for the neighbor. He kept screaming, “We’re all doomed! We’re all doomed! Were all doomed! “, as those nice men in white jackets put him in a nice robe with sleeves that wrapped around his back.

I also learned, from another friend who called, Alt-F4 closes a window as well as other important keystrokes. I am trying to write this to see if both my hands work and I can actually write something without cutting and pasting from something, somewhere else. The feeling is actually refreshing.

It has only taken me five hours to get this far.

Okay, now my friendly neighbor is back. He seems so relaxed in the stretcher. I'll just go to the window to say hello. Wait.

Ok I'm back. He was fine ‘til he saw me. Then he started screaming again.

This time, all I need to do is use the master control: Ctrl-Alt-Shift-Throw-the-PC-out-the-window. I think I'll try it now...

In brief: Can you imagine the impact of something like that would have on, say, a system filled with people who don't know hotkeys, who don’t know what to do if the mouse dies?! What would you do when there is no mouse in house? Or touchpad on the laptop? The pointer device is perhaps something that deserves the Nobel Prize, or a heck of royalty check. But I must admit, the hotkeys are fun and bring me back to a yesteryear of early PC'ing.

So I see I can still write…well, a little. Perhaps it’s not all that bad, after all…

Okay, gotta go buy a new mouse or PC, or see if I can figure out why I’m suddenly on all these new fun chatrooms.

And, oh, some guys have come to visit. Why are they wearing those helmets and goggles and dressed in black, though....

" Mexico's Congress approved a bill Friday decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin for personal use —"

Ok, the headline is bit of a stretch. but I can see it as one solution to a major problem that Mexico has been unable or unwilling to contend with.

i can also see Jay Leno's Tonight Show and those guys from Comedy central's writer's pool and a lot of Hollywood getting ready to write punch lines to jokes; With the same message I had in my headline. While others will be doing it in hotel rooms in Mexico to be there when the bill is signed into law.

" The only remaining step was the signature of President Vicente Fox, whose office indicated he would sign it. Supporters said the law would let police focus on drug smuggling, rather than on busting casual users. The bill also would stiffen many drug-related penalties: for trafficking, for possession near schools, and for possession of even small quantities by government employees." - FOXNEWS.com reports.

I do expect if the law is enacted; a lot of those using and abusing the "personal use" law will be Americans and people from other countries who use and abuse drugs.

I can imagine those drums along the Border in "TJ" where people can dump contraband oin return to the USA will be full of "personal use" items of people returning to the USA.

But; the bottom line, it is a surrender to drug barons and drug dealers in way - however domestic consumption in Mexico is a problem that is encouraged by the huge demand across the Border.

The major problem is Mexican jails are filled with tens of thousands of people who technically are addicts in need of rehabilitation. They need to do a Malaysia and Philippine solution which is to save the user- "rehab" them - and kill the pusher- as provided in the death penalty for drug lords and drug barons.
Read the rest on the website link to FNC.

In light of recent ruling in the United States where a Federal ruling has overturned some states use of medical marijuana it may be way for those who suffer from ailments to seek treatment and may be a move to cash-in before US "smoke rooms" are shut down .

Do not get me wrong; I do not use drugs; I said no a long time ago - nor do I condone the use of the illicit drugs mentioned above for sale illegally or as is now legally allowed in Mexico when Fox signs it into law.

To do such is a surrender; A failure to being able to enforce drug laws effectively or failure to be able to stop the trade.

But what I am saying is it a sad day for those engaged in fighting the sad social scourge and I am sure will be abused extensively by many who are in the drug trade.

Vicente Fox could still Veto the measure; but it is unlikely seeing it is an election year in Mexico.

In fairness to Mexico; in the Netherlands, a similar law was introduced. It was not successful and later redrawn with stricter policies and change as drug abuse and drug tourists visitors escalated to levels many could not tolerate.

Newsflash: Mexico legalizes drug use… may have to put up wall to keep Americans out!