Abu Sayyaf, Gam, Badawi Abdullah Ahmad and Democratic Action Party - Research Paper Example

? Abu Sayyaf, GAM, Badawi Abdullah Ahmad and (DAP), Abu Sayyaf (Philippines) This is a terror group associated with Muslims in Philippines. It is the worst separatist terror group and is based in South Philippines. Through terror, the group extorts money and carries out her jihad activities by bombings, kidnappings and assassinations. The group have been seen as a threat to the economic performance of the nations. Not only has the resurgence of the terror group posed a security threat to Philippines, it has also been shaking the peace of the entire South East Asia and also the United states. In 2002, a report by the CSR indicated that the group had re-emerged more strongly and the government of the nation of Philippines were unable to control them.1 Amongst the reasons that hindered the operations of the government against the group were inadequacy in military power, bad terrain, the concern of the welfare of the hostages and inadequacy in the U.S military support. After an attack that occurred on 11th September, 2001, the government of America stepped in to fight the terror group with the aim of helping the government of Philippines while at the same actualize her commitment in combating terrorism in the world. Having links with the Middle East terror groups, the group finds her strength from the financial support by them and also the ransoms collected through payments of the kidnappings. Her ally terror groups such as the al Qaeda has been instrumental in strengthening the group and hence the threat to operations by the Philippine government. The Abu Sayyaf group is believed to be stiffened by Filipino Muslims with military experience gained in Afghanistan and to have received financial support from external Islamic sources. It has been suggested also that it enjoys a covert relationship with the Moro National Liberation Front which it exploited in protracted negotiations with the Philippines government. GAM (Aceh Independent Movement – Indonesia) This is another separatist group whose operations are based in Indonesia. The Free Aceh Movement has since 1070’s persistently pursued the course of self government for the province though without success. The ideology behind the movement has always been of liberation of the province and ensures strict alienation of all influence by political forces other than that of self governance. Although the movement has faced uncountable challenges in their pursuit in the late 20th century, their re-emergence in post 2000 has been seen strategic. Brutal and fierce military operations meant to destroy the movement characterized the province within 1970’s and 1990s. However, though many leaders and followers died and others ran into exile, there still remained proper coordination of the group through underground processes which kept the group alive. Though Islam holds a critical position for the GAM, it is unlike political affiliation, but a reflection of strong Acehnese cultural identity and solidarity. GAM has a well organized administration which includes the top leadership, majorly operating outside the province and nation, the intermediate level of leadership and the military and finally the ground level organization at the grassroots level. It is also organized into civilian governance and civil military organization. This arrangement was made clear in 2002 when through a meeting; the leadership of the organization was reformed by affirming existing policies as well as instituting new governance policies for the group by the leadership.2GAM has no solid sources of funding. Nevertheless, sources have over time indicated that the operations of the movement are funded via donations from abroad, illegal activities such as drug peddling and kidnappings through which ransoms are demanded. Cease fire negotiations in the recent past failed to fully settle the instability though in the August of 2005, the government and the administration of the GAM had a consensus which led to an agreement. 2005 MOU signing has lead to a cessation of the decades of instability by war in the province. The Indonesian government has however gone in record of making efforts to assist the victims of the Aceh violence which left scores dead and many children parentless. It is equally worth noting that the population from the province of Ace were allowed to participate in political governance of the nation after the consensus and through this, they have seen a representation of their own within the assembly. However brutal has the organization been portrayed, the supporters strongly believe it is the only way to go to realize their self governance. They believe the signing of ceasefire agreements are only ceremonious and hypocritical. Badawi, Abdullah Ahmad Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was appointed deputy prime minister and minister of home affairs in January 1999 in the wake of the dismissal of Anwar Ibrahim from high office in the previous September. In those portfolios, he demonstrated consistent loyalty to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, against whom he had been aligned politically during the late 1980s. He was appointed to replace the out gone deputy Minister Anwar Ibrahim after he was sacked by the then prime minister of the country of Malaysia. Through his elevation, the electorate considered his leadership which would count a lot in the elections to come. In 2004, the electorates voted him in as the incumbent prime minister of the republic of Malysia to succeed Mahathir Mohamad. His election as the prime minister of the republic was faced with different reactions within the ruling party which ultimately saw a division between his supporters and those who turned to support the then minister for finance. This greatly shook his administration and many doubted his completion of his term of service. However, following his earlier pledges to the electorate, he stood firm to run the government. His immediate pledge to the country was to thoroughly eradicate corruption within the country by empowering the agencies responsible and proper legislation. This set the motion of his government which saw many former politicians brought to law over corruption cases within the previous governance. Among other fields, his governance focused more on overall improvement in agricultural sector of the economy. In his election in 2004, he took control of the majority seats in parliament following his bid to moderate Islam amongst religious groups. Records indicate that he was highly active in designing foreign policies. He also chaired many economic forums and organizations during his premiership tenure. He is remembered for successfully leading the country into free trade as he strongly believed in creating wealth through foreign investment and privatization. He was however criticized of failure to regulate fuel prices during his first tenure.3 Badawi was reelected the prime minister of the republic for the second term in 2008 though with a low support. His second term in office was however unsuccessful following his failure to capture the majority support in the assembly. Pressure mounted on him and ultimately he gave in and resigned before the term was over. Many of his close allies came in to persuade for his resignation. He stepped down for his deputy in the same year of re-election. This was an unceremonious retirement from his high portfolio in political career. Democratic Action Party (DAP) (Malaysia) Key feature of this party is her secular status and multiracial status. The party envisions establishing a prosperous country by uniting different races, religion affiliations and cultures. The democratic action party has a long history in the Malaysian politics having severally participated for national elections.4 However, the party has never been successful in the national elections to scoop majority seats to enable it form the government in spite of standing the best opposition party over years. Despite the efforts for the party to stick to her commitment to have all equitably represented, the political rivals and the critics have often come clear and saying that the DAP has favorism for the minority Chinese above others. It is a characteristic feature that the party has a strong support from the non-Malay citizens and especially the minority Chinese. She also commands a good following from the Indians. Nevertheless, it is this support from the non-citizen that has led to the critics and other opposition parties term the party partisan and racist. In 2008, the party managed to secure 28 slots of the parliamentary positions and PAS scooped 23 slots. The party has also expressed her interest to contest in the country’s 13th general election and as such it is well prepared. With support of PAS in the Peninsula, the party is anticipating great success in the elections. Therefore DAP is by virtue of the great following it commands, the most influential opposition party in Malysia. Analysis would have it that the future politics of the country would have a lot from the party. By being a strong party in opposition, and the recent reformations the party would be in a position to form the government. Bibliography Case William. Abdullah Badawi’s first year as Malaysia’s Prime Minister. (Regional Outlook Paper No. 2).1-25 Chin J. The Sarawak Chinese Voters and TheirSupport for the DemocraticAction Party (DAP). (SoutheastAsian Studies) Vol. 34, No.2, September 1996 Niksch Larry. Abu Sayyaf: Target of Philippine-U.S.Anti-Terrorism Cooperation.(CRS Report for Congress) January 25, 2002. 1-12 Schulz Kirsten E.. The Free Aceh Movement (GAM): Anatomy of a Separatist Organization. (Policy Studies 2). 2004. 1-92 Read More