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Possible IS base in southern Philippines: New flashpoint?
Antara/Irsan MulyadiAlthough the Islamic State (IS) group based in Marawi City, southern Philippines, was able to be destroyed by the Philippine military, the southern Philippines is providing a new center of conflict that could become a stepping stone for IS jihadists and militia groups to consolidate and continue to spread their ideology and develop the group’s global influence, as noted by researchers Zachary Abuza and Colin P
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Antara/Irsan Mulyadi
Although the Islamic State (IS) group based in Marawi City, southern Philippines, was able to be destroyed by the Philippine military, the southern Philippines is providing a new center of conflict that could become a stepping stone for IS jihadists and militia groups to consolidate and continue to spread their ideology and develop the group’s global influence, as noted by researchers Zachary Abuza and Colin P. Clarke.
The IS’ efforts to make the southern Philippines, especially Mindanao, the basis of a new caliphate by utilizing the existence and role of its followers, supporters and sympathizers around Southeast Asia has been successful, as scholar Richard C. Paddock notes. In the region, the use of sophisticated weapons, drones and unlimited ammunition, enabled by among other things funding from outside, raises deep concern among regional leaders about the development of the region as a center for IS resistance in Southeast Asia.
The Philippines' and United States' governments have detected a flow of US$55,000 from IS, sent by Bahrum Naim, as cited by the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, to his cells and networks in Indonesia.
This figure, said to be the mastermind of the January 2016 attack in Central Jakarta, was among those who reportedly wished for an IS base in south Philippines. Another Indonesian, Bachrumsyah, whose death is unconfirmed, led the Khatibah Nusantara, the forerunner of IS resistance in the southern Philippines.
The funds were sent through Achmad Supriyanto alias Damar, a Jamaah Ansharut Daulah member in Banten, who then sent it to the Philippines through the Western Union service. The transfers were later detected by Indonesia’s Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).
There was additional transfer of $600,000 from IS in the Middle East to Mahmud Ahmad, identified as a former lecturer and IS follower in Malaysia, who was in the IS circle of the command structure of action in Marawi, Philippines.
All of the IS funds from the Middle East were sent for spreading its mission in Southeast Asia, thus encouraging leaders in the region to jointly anticipate terrorist attacks.
Since the IS caliphate was declared in 2015 by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was killed in late October, from 2014 to 2018, six main funding sources have supported the IS and could remain among their resources, according to various sources.
First, illegal oil sales, the main source of IS funding following its seizure of several important oil fields in Syria and Iraq, smuggled through Turkey. The Pentagon earlier estimated that each month IS made a turnover of up to $40 million from the oil black market, the Financial Times reported in October 2015.
Second, the IS had always looted banks in the areas they captured in Syria and Iraq, from which they seized up to $1 billion, according to US government estimates. When conquering Mosul city in northern Iraq, $420 million reportedly disappeared, enough to pay the salaries of their 50,000 terrorists for a year.
Third, taxation and extortion. Eight million people in IS territory had to pay taxes of between 5 to 15 percent of their income. The German government reported IS also applied a special tax on non-Muslims and companies in the conquered region who had to pay a regular amount of protection money.
Fourth, the sale of antiques. While IS lambasted the idolatrous actions of residents in the cities they controlled, high-priced antiques, including those regarded as idols, were usually secured and smuggled for sale on the black market.
Fifth, abduction and ransom. These have been among the main sources of income and also a propaganda tool for IS. Hostages were usually executed and their videos aired over the internet.
Sixth, the contribution of IS sympathizers is spread everywhere. Their donations were earlier estimated at $40 million per year since 2015, according to the German media outlet Deutsche Welle in September 2016. The International Center for Terrorism Studies in Arlington, Virginia, US, reported that the highest individual donations came from Saudi Arabia, which since 2010 convicted 860 people on charges of financing terror.
Since it was declared in June 2014, IS has carried out 143 terrorist attacks in 29 countries, which killed at least 2,043 people. The data shows IS terrorist acts in various parts of the world vary in the perpetrators and the modus operandi, but usually share high numbers of victims.
After large losses of IS space in Syria and Iraq in 2018, the caliphate is now appearing in cyberspace. IS no longer makes Syria and Iraq the basis of their international struggle, resistance and terrorism campaigns. IS has even reportedly built the “caliphate of Southeast Asia” in the southern Philippines.
This foothold has become an alternative for IS leaders and followers in the region to expand the front and continue international terrorism. IS followers, supporters and sympathizers in the southern Philippines include those from Indonesia, other ASEAN member countries, the Middle East, Africa and the Uighurs from mainland China.
The Philippines and Indonesia together have about 25,000 islands, bordered by vast and difficult waters beyond the reach of control through the patrols of security forces of both countries. Add Malaysia, the islands and territorial waters that have the potential to become centers of activities of Southeast Asia’s IS base and the area is increasingly vast and difficult to control because of its porous borders. This was revealed in our in-depth interviews with personnel of defense-security apparatuses in the region.
The flow of funding for the “IS caliphate in Southeast Asia” after the destruction of the IS base in Marawi city must be cut. Funding is at the heart of terrorism and radicalism activities by IS networks, supporters and sympathizers in this region. The funds are not only used to finance terror operations themselves, but also to expand influence and networks and to support the social life of terror groups and create a new generation of violent jihadists.
Now it is up to the political will of the governments and civil societies in ASEAN to overcome IS in Southeast Asia. Therefore, the Philippines, Indonesia and the rest of ASEAN must act firmly together for the sake of regional stability and peace.
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Herdi Sahrasad is a lecturer at the University of Paramadina and a research fellow at the Paramadina Institute for Ethics and Civilizations and the Center for Strategic Studies University of Indonesia. Al Chaidar is a lecturer at the University of Malikussaleh Aceh and a PhD candidate at the Department of Anthropology, University of Indonesia (UI).
