(Mindanao Examiner Video)
Above, U.S. troops guard the Jolo airport where the plane of Kristie Kenney, the U.S. Ambassador to Manila, is to land. And U.S. Army Col. James Linder leads Kenney and Maj. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, chief of the Western Mindanao Command. Below, Kenney gets a kiss from an old Filipino Muslim woman during her visit at remote town of Panamao in Jolo island Monday, Sept. 25, 2006. U.S. forces are assisting Philippine troops as they continue their hunt against members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group and Jemaah Islamiya in the volatile island. (Mindanao Examiner) JOLO ISLAND (Mindanao Examiner / 25 Sept) U.S. Ambassador to Manila Kristie Kenney on Monday braved the island of Jolo in the restive southern region, where Filipino troops, assisted by American intelligence, are hunting down leaders of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group and two Jemaah Islamiya bombers.
Kenney inspected U.S.-funded infrastructure projects in Indanan and Panamao, two towns previously torn by war between security and Abu Sayyaf forces. "I am so happy to be here and talk to a lot of people and assured them of the U.S. support in developing this beautiful place," she said.
The Philippine military said troops were pursuing two Jemaah Islamiya militants Dulmatin and Umar Patek. The Abu Sayyaf, it said, is coddling both Dulmatin and Patek, blamed by Jakarta as behind the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 mostly Australian holiday-makers.
The United States offered as much as $10 million reward for the capture of Dulmatin and another $1 million bounty for Patek. The U.S. also put up another $5 million for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Khadaffy Janjalani, its chieftain. President Gloria Arroyo also offered up to P100 million bounties for the capture of senior Abu Sayyaf leaders -- dead or alive.
Kenney was met at the Jolo airport by Philippine Army Maj. Gen. Eugenio Cedo and U.S. Army Col. James Linder and other local government officials. Security was tight during her visit and Filipino and American soldiers were protecting the ambassador.
She also visited mostly poor Muslim villagers in Bwansa, a hamlet in Indanan town, where soldiers from both countries and local health people were conducting a joint medical mission. She spoke before a huge crowd of Muslim villagers and told them that more humanitarian aid are on its way and that Washington is supporting the government efforts to defeat terrorism in Jolo island.
Kenney also met with U.S. troops on Jolo and had a lunch with them.
U.S. soldiers are currently in Jolo island and assisting and advising the local military in fighting homegrown terrorism. No U.S. or Filipino officials would like to say how many American soldiers are on the island, but local villagers estimate that more than a hundred troops are currently deployed in Jolo, many inside the Philippine Army and Marine bases on the island.
Many of the U.S. troops are also involved in medical and civic missions in an effort to win the hearts and minds of the locals. From February to March this year, over 150 Filipino soldiers and 250 American troops held humanitarian projects here and provided free medical assistance to some 11,000 people.
Since 2004, more than 37,000 people on Jolo island also benefited from joint U.S. and R.P. medical missions in partnership with local governments and international organizations. The U.S. Navy ship, Mercy, also arrived here in June for a series of medical mission to thousands of villagers.
The U.S. military, working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has so far completed more than 50 individual development projects on the island worth some $4.5 million since 2003 -- from road construction to new school buildings.
Kenney inspected U.S.-funded infrastructure projects in Indanan and Panamao, two towns previously torn by war between security and Abu Sayyaf forces. "I am so happy to be here and talk to a lot of people and assured them of the U.S. support in developing this beautiful place," she said.
The Philippine military said troops were pursuing two Jemaah Islamiya militants Dulmatin and Umar Patek. The Abu Sayyaf, it said, is coddling both Dulmatin and Patek, blamed by Jakarta as behind the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 mostly Australian holiday-makers.
The United States offered as much as $10 million reward for the capture of Dulmatin and another $1 million bounty for Patek. The U.S. also put up another $5 million for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Khadaffy Janjalani, its chieftain. President Gloria Arroyo also offered up to P100 million bounties for the capture of senior Abu Sayyaf leaders -- dead or alive.
Kenney was met at the Jolo airport by Philippine Army Maj. Gen. Eugenio Cedo and U.S. Army Col. James Linder and other local government officials. Security was tight during her visit and Filipino and American soldiers were protecting the ambassador.
She also visited mostly poor Muslim villagers in Bwansa, a hamlet in Indanan town, where soldiers from both countries and local health people were conducting a joint medical mission. She spoke before a huge crowd of Muslim villagers and told them that more humanitarian aid are on its way and that Washington is supporting the government efforts to defeat terrorism in Jolo island.
Kenney also met with U.S. troops on Jolo and had a lunch with them.
U.S. soldiers are currently in Jolo island and assisting and advising the local military in fighting homegrown terrorism. No U.S. or Filipino officials would like to say how many American soldiers are on the island, but local villagers estimate that more than a hundred troops are currently deployed in Jolo, many inside the Philippine Army and Marine bases on the island.
Many of the U.S. troops are also involved in medical and civic missions in an effort to win the hearts and minds of the locals. From February to March this year, over 150 Filipino soldiers and 250 American troops held humanitarian projects here and provided free medical assistance to some 11,000 people.
Since 2004, more than 37,000 people on Jolo island also benefited from joint U.S. and R.P. medical missions in partnership with local governments and international organizations. The U.S. Navy ship, Mercy, also arrived here in June for a series of medical mission to thousands of villagers.
The U.S. military, working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has so far completed more than 50 individual development projects on the island worth some $4.5 million since 2003 -- from road construction to new school buildings.
2 comments:
More power to Kenney.
this is an awesome picture.
U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney, right, gets a kiss from an old Filipino Muslim woman during her visit at remote town of Panamao, southern Jolo island, Philippines on Monday, Sept. 25, 2006. U.S. forces are assisting Philippine troops as they continue their hunt against members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group and Jemaah Islamiya in the volatile island.
CDR Katy Wright
JSOTF-P Forward
Public Affairs Officer
Direct Dial: 808-448-3839
DSN: 801-245-3839
Post a Comment