{UAH} Philippines: Mosque in Zamboanga hit by deadly grenade attack

Gwokto/ Ikanos/ Edmund/ Annet Kobby

See here the situation in the Philippines is spiralling out of control. Last sunday, Muslim terrorists bombed a  christian cathedral in Jolo island, killing over 50 worshippers and injuring hundreds of others. Now this one, which seems to be a revenge attack by a christian para-military group. The irony is that just last week, the whole Island of Mindanao participated in a Referendum in which the population voted for Autonomy- this means the government in Mindanao will be reserved lot of powers currently held by central government. Provinces where muslims are a majority will be given  substantive self rule. The mainstream Muslim organisations in Mindanao, such as the Moro Islamic Front (MILF) supported the Autonomy deal, which the Philippines government hopes will bring the insurgency and civil war in Mindanao to an end by giving Muslims a stake in the governance of Mindanao. But the Islamic groups, such as the Abu Sayaff, which is linked to Isis, rejected the autonomy deal as their demand is for the establishment of an independent Islamic State in the whole of Mindanao ruled by sharia law.. This is an impossible demand. Although Mindanao is the ancestral homeland of the Muslim Moro people, they are now a minority, making up less than 10% of the total population of the island of 25 million. The bulk of the population of Mindanao are now christian immigrants who have migrated to the island continously  over the last two centuries. It is completely impossible to declare sharia law over a largely christian population-  over 90% of the population- who are morever very hostile to Islamic influence or control. The Autonomy Deal seemed the only pragmatic solution of addressing the opposing demands of the minority muslim population and the majority christian population. The sunday  massacre at at the Christian Cathedral, claimed by Abu Sayaff terror group, seems to be intended to scupper the Autonomy Deal.

Bobby

Philippines: Mosque in Zamboanga hit by deadly grenade attack

Two killed in assault that follows deadly blasts at cathedral on nearby island church and vote backing Muslim self-rule.

5 hours ago

The attack in Zamboanga took place just days after the deadly twin blasts at a Catholic church in Jolo. [Philippine army/AP]

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At least two people have been killed and four others wounded in a grenade attack on a mosque in the southern Philippines, say local officials.

The attack in Zamboanga city took place in the early hours of Wednesday, just days after deadly twin blasts at a Roman Catholic cathedral in the island of Jolo and a vote backing wider Muslim self-rule in Mindanao, the country's volatile southernmost region.

"A grenade was lobbed inside a mosque killing two persons and wounding another four," regional military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana told AFP news agency of the attack in Zamboanga.

In a statement, President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman, Salvador Panelo, said the attackers are "taunting" the government in its handling of the peace and order situation in Mindanao.

"Terrorism has once again reared its barbaric and ugly head," Panelo said.

A grenade attack on a mosque in the Philippines left two dead and four wounded, days after twin blasts killed 21 people at Jolo cathedral. pic.twitter.com/EGRh6ZT0RZ

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 30, 2019

The victims were reportedly sleeping inside the mosque at the time of the attack, which drew immediate condemnation from local officials

"There is no redeeming such blasphemous murder. It is the highest form of cowardice and obscenity to attack people who at prayer," said regional leader Mujiv Hataman.

"We call on people of all faiths... to come together to pray for peace."

The Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula condemned what it called a "devilish, irrational and inhumane act" and urged people to be vigilant.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The military called for unity among Mindanao communities and urged the public to refrain from speculation on social media that could spread misinformation.

Regional task force commander Colonel Leonel Nicolas stressed the incident was "not a retaliatory act" for the church bombing three days before.

The country was put on high alert after two explosions during a Sunday church service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo town, Sulu province, killed at least 21 people and wounded more than 100 others.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group claimed responsibility for the cathedral blast, one of the worst incidents of violence in Philippines' restive south.

President Rodrigo Duterte blamed Abu Sayyaf, a domestic armed group that has pledged allegiance to ISIL and has carried out bombings, kidnappings and beheadings in Mindanao, for carrying out the church bombing.

Rescue personnel work to resuscitate a victim after the grenade attack [Zamboanga Quick Response System/via Reuters]

"Nobody, but nobody, could perpetuate that kind of terrorism in that area," he said this week during a visit to the region.

The incidents follow a successful and peaceful January 21 referendum that overwhelmingly approved autonomy for the estimated five million inhabitants of predominantly Muslim parts of Mindanao.

That followed a decades-long separatist struggle that has killed at least 120,000 people.

Muslims are a minority in the predominantly Catholic Philippines and represent about a quarter of the population of the Mindanao region.

Sectarian violence does not happen often there and the autonomy plan, which aims to address chronic poverty, underdevelopment and violence, is largely supported by Filipinos nationwide.

INSIDE STORY: Can there be peace in the southern Philippines? (24:35)

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

• Asia Pacific
• Philippines

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