Philippines: Abu Sayyaf as a Scapegoat

The Dec. 15 killing of Abdul Mubin Sakandal, a leader of the Philippines' Abu Sayyaf militant group, was essentially unimportant to the overall insurgency in the southern Philippines. In truth, Abu Sayyaf is an organization that has little if any cohesion. The Philippines' Islamist militant movement is in negotiations with the government, but President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's administration uses Abu Sayyaf as an excuse to maintain public concern about Islamist militants while taking pressure off the rebels who are in talks with the government.