Old news (October 2006), but interesting discussion nevertheless. If this topic has been discussed before, would it be possible to merge this with the older discussion? Thanks.
It was interesting how this news seemed to coincide with the Philippine Marines' plan to activate its riverine craft battalion.
Australia denies helping AFP in tracking terrorists
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/oct/18/yehey/prov/20061018pro1.html
COTABATO CITY: The Australian government on Monday denied that its forces are helping Filipino security forces hunt down al-Qaeda-affiliated Jemaah Islamiah and Abu Sayyaf militants in Mindanao.
“Articles in the Australian and some international media, principally in News Limited papers, are wrong. The Australian Defense Force [ADF] has not been involved in counterterrorism operations in Mindanao,” Australian Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Pablo Kang clarified in a statement.
Kang admitted however, that in March this year, Australia sent a Special Forces officer to observe the joint United States and Philippines’ Exercise Balikatan in Zamboanga at the invitation of the Philippine government.
Such exercise involves civil-military activities and does not entail military operations, Kang pointed out.
He said the Australian defense department is working with the Philippines to develop an Army watercraft capability of up to 30 boats suitable for patrolling the rivers and marshlands of Mindanao.
“This, however, will not involve ADF operations in the Philippines,” he said.
The past several years, he said, the ADF has undertaken annual counter-hijack training in the Philippines but has not deployed ADF personnel to the Philippine counterterrorism operations.
[Edited]
It was interesting how this news seemed to coincide with the Philippine Marines' plan to activate its riverine craft battalion.
Australia denies helping AFP in tracking terrorists
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/oct/18/yehey/prov/20061018pro1.html
COTABATO CITY: The Australian government on Monday denied that its forces are helping Filipino security forces hunt down al-Qaeda-affiliated Jemaah Islamiah and Abu Sayyaf militants in Mindanao.
“Articles in the Australian and some international media, principally in News Limited papers, are wrong. The Australian Defense Force [ADF] has not been involved in counterterrorism operations in Mindanao,” Australian Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Pablo Kang clarified in a statement.
Kang admitted however, that in March this year, Australia sent a Special Forces officer to observe the joint United States and Philippines’ Exercise Balikatan in Zamboanga at the invitation of the Philippine government.
Such exercise involves civil-military activities and does not entail military operations, Kang pointed out.
He said the Australian defense department is working with the Philippines to develop an Army watercraft capability of up to 30 boats suitable for patrolling the rivers and marshlands of Mindanao.
“This, however, will not involve ADF operations in the Philippines,” he said.
The past several years, he said, the ADF has undertaken annual counter-hijack training in the Philippines but has not deployed ADF personnel to the Philippine counterterrorism operations.
[Edited]
