Military operations, humanitarian work in south cited

MAIMBUNG, Sulu – Karen Hughes, US undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, has lauded the combination of military operations and US-backed humanitarian work here as a model in the war on terrorism.

Hughes, who arrived here on Thursday, congratulated the Armed Forces for the killing of Abu Sayyaf chief Khadaffy Janjalani and spokesman Abu Solaiman.

The US had offered rewards of $10 million for the capture or death of the two men, wanted for the beheading of a California tourist and the kidnapping of two American missionaries in 2001-2002.

"I came here to offer my congratulations for the tremendous successes in confronting the leadership of the terror groups," Hughes said after honoring American and Filipino World War II soldiers at the American Cemetery in Manila.

She said RP-US military cooperation, including US training and intelligence support for the Army offensive against the Abu Sayyaf and humanitarian activities by US troops on Sulu, is "an example to different places around the world."

Hughes and US Ambassador Kristie Kenney arrived here and traveled with a heavily guarded convoy of several vehicles that included armored vehicles.

The two American officials were joined by local government and military officials in the inauguration of a portion of the national road, which was constructed through the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) project of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Hughes said her concern was public diplomacy in waging peace in many conflict areas, including Sulu.

"I used the word waging because we have to be intentional in creating the commitment to peace just as we have to be going intentional about tracking down the terrorists that threaten peace," Hughes added.

Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo said that the security operations are always followed by development through the civil military operation.

"We have built trust and confidence through these projects," he said.

The military has been pursuing the Abu Sayyaf terrorists as well as working with the USAID and the state department to help create conditions to sustain peace, Hughes said.

The efforts included the building of health clinics, roads and bridges and providing educational opportunities for residents of Sulu, where the Abu Sayyaf leaders were gunned down in jungle clashes.

The confirmation of the deaths of Solaiman and Janjalani dealt a major blow to the Muslim extremists who were responsible for the series of bombings and kidnap-slaying of foreigners.

A top Indonesian bomb expert known as Dulmatin, who is wanted for the 2002 bombings in Bali, Indonesia, was also reportedly wounded after Army Special Forces clashed with an Abu Sayyaf band in Talipao, Sulu last Jan. 16. Solaiman, the Abu Sayyaf spokesman whose real name is Jainal Antel Sali Jr., was killed during that same encounter.

Sulu Gov. Benjamin Loong said the roads that the US helped build, have greatly contributed to the province’s "arms to farms" program to help isolate the terrorists from the villagers.

"The program had transformed the mindset of Tausugs (Sulu natives) to welcome development, thus helping our military in providing a more secure environment," Loong said.

Hughes said she was honored by the result, which the US government helped dedicate to what she described as "truly a milestone on the road to peace and development."

Hughes also reminded the young Muslims here to play the important part in developing the country through education. - AP