The death of Khadaffy Janjalani
The Philippine Daily Inquirer (no online edition) claims that Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani, who was just confirmed dead by DNA testing after having been reported killed on September 4, 2006, brought on his death by chanting prayers in the Sulu hinterland. "Janjalani's own voice in the early hours ... as he sang and prayed hymns from the Koran led to the discovery of his hiding place ... at least that was the view from the side of the hunters." According to the news story, it was the sound of Janjalani's own voice that brought on his death. Janjalani was one of the men who kidnapped 21 tourists at a dive resort in Palawan to hold as hostages. They included Americans Guillermo Sobrero, who was later beheaded and missionaries Tim and Gracia Burnham. Tim Burnham was killed in the rescue attempt. One by one, all the Abu Sayyaf involved in kidnapping the Americans are dying.
The account says Philippine Marine recon platoon "chanced" upon " a small group of armed men resting in hammocks in the forests of Upper Tanum in Indanan" Using his night vision goggles Philippine Marine 2nd Lieutenant Dimayuga closed to under twenty feet and ordered a volley of grenades. The Marines then began to pick off individual targets, one shot apparently hitting Janjalani through the neck. The Marine platoon was immediately counterattacked by a large Abu Sayyaf relief force. Dimayuga's unit lost six men and suffered 16 wounded including Dimayuga himself. Janjalani's corpse was later discovered in Patikul, Jolo Island.
Commentary
The immense enterprise and bravery of Dimayuga's Marine platoon is implied by the account of the action. It's regrettable that the Philippine Daily Inquirer didn't ask him how the Marine unit managed to escape from the counterattack. That would be a story. But I will conjecture that the chance a single Marine platoon would just be wandering around Indanan, Sulu in the middle of the night as between slim to none.
posted by wretchardthecat at 1/21/2007 05:38:00 PM
3 Comments:
A list of three lower-level Abu Sayyaf commanders that security officials consider the top candidates for top leadership was provided to The Associated Press by a military officer and a police official, who both insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists.
The first is Radulan Sahiron, a one-armed man in his 70s based in the forested mountains of Patikul on southern Jolo island. An ex-commander with the Moro National Liberation Front, a Muslim rebel group that signed a 1996 peace accord with the government, he is Abu Sayyaf's most senior fighter.
He lacks Janjalani's local and foreign contacts, and he reportedly has often had to be hoisted onto a horse in recent years because of his many illnesses, including arthritis and diabetes. Washington has offered a $200,000 reward for his capture.
Group Leaderless
Online article here: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=44760
But do they need leaders as long as we have ours?
Mike Steele, American Hero in Somalia (Black Hawk Down), Reprimanded in Iraq, Career Finished
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