Think tank: Marwan's reputation blown up

MANILA, Philippines - A report from an Indonesian think tank claimed that Malaysian fugitive Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan, was not a world-class terrorist contrary to what his reputation was.

The Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) examined Marwan's activities in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines and reached the conclusion that he was not as dangerous as he was made out to be.

Marwan was the primary target of Oplan Exodus in Mamasapano, Maguindanao which led to the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos during an encounter with Moro rebels last January 25.

The Malaysian fugitive had a $5-million bounty on his head under the "Rewards for Justice" program of the United States.

During the Senate inquiry on the Mamasapano incident, sacked SAF chief Getulio Napeñas referred to Marwan as "the most notorious bomb expert not just here in Southeast Asia but also in the entire world."

The IPAC report countered claims that Marwan had special bomb-making skills and that he was never a member of terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, although he occasionally worked with some of its Malaysia-based members.

According to the report, one of Marwan's former colleagues from Indonesia referred to him as "a little snake who has been blown up into a dragon."

Marwan reportedly had a tendency to panic in crisis situations which made him unwanted in battle.

"He was often more a burden than an asset to those who helped hide him," the report added.

The IPAC also dispelled reports that Marwan was involved in the 2002 Bali bombings, noting that he was already in the Philippines when the incident happened.

For several years, Marwan was the source of funds and equipments for his friends from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayyaf Group, the report said.

The report noted that due to Marwan's death, the Philippines' best chance for peace may be in jeopardy.

"The carnage came at the worst possible moment for the peace process," the IPAC report stated, citing the delay of the deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law which was the result of seventeen years of talks between the Philippine government and the MILF.

The IPAC suggested that the US Rewards for Justice program should also be looked into as they have led to false alarms.

"The huge bounties placed on the heads of foreign jihadis have helped to burnish their reputation as world-class terrorists, perhaps out of proportion to their actual roles. They encourage killing high-value targets rather than making any effort to arrest them alive," the report read.

The report concluded that Marwan is not the last criminal that will hide out in central Mindanao and suggested that the solution to this problem is to strengthen existing mechanisms such as the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group for coordination between the government and the MILF in pursuing fugitives.

"Without the MILF's active involvement, no long-term solution to extremism in the Philippines is thinkable," the report said.

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