The Links between Organized Crime and Terrorism: The Philippines and the Abu Sayyaf
Abstract
This presentation on Abu Sayyaf was conducted by Clarita R. Carlos, PhD, a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of the Philippines. Abu Sayyaf, which means "Bearer of the Sword," is a militant organization based in the southern Philippines that seeks a separate Islamic state for the country's Muslim minority. The United States perceives Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist organization with ties to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. The group operates mostly in the southern Philippines in the area of Mindanao, where most of the country's Muslims live. In Mindanao, nearly half of the population lives below the poverty line. One-third of the country's agricultural output comes from Mindanao. One of the terrorist acts commonly committed by Abu Sayyaf is kidnapping for ransom. Its other activities include bombings, assassinations, and extortion. The group increased in numbers from 120 in 1993 to 1,107 in 1999. They increase their cache of firearms by 137 percent each year, and they conducted 378 terrorist activities in just 1999-2000 alone. Al-Qaeda is believed to provide Abu Sayyaf with financial support, firearms, and training, although the specifics of this assistance are not well established. The continuing challenges to squelch the group include the dire economic situation of the area and corruption of local government officials.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA441166
Entities
People
- Clarita R. Carlos
Organizations
- National Defense University