From: eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: eskrima-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V8 #416 Reply-To: eskrima@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest Tues, 18 Sept 2001 Vol 08 : Num 416 In this issue: eskrima: Mr. Meadows post eskrima: RE:MR.s Clay and Alcindor eskrima: Re: Tuhon Sayoc eskrima: Training equipment eskrima: Knife Seminar eskrima: Numbers eskrima: STRATFOR eskrima: . ========================================================================== Eskrima-Digest, serving the Internet since June 1994. 1200 members strong! Copyright 1994-2001: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource The premier internet discussion forum devoted to Filipino Martial Arts. Provided in memory of Mangisursuro Michael G. Inay (1944-2000). Replying to this message will NOT unsubscribe you. To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe eskrima-digest" (no quotes) in the body (top line, left justified) of a "plain text" e-mail addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com. To send e-mail to this list use eskrima@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com See the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) FAQ and the online search engine for back issues of the Eskrima-Digest at http://MartialArtsResource.com Mabuhay ang eskrima! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: boyd5755@att.net Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 15:02:27 +0000 Subject: eskrima: Mr. Meadows post Hi Tom, You may want to refer to the following website to get more accurate statistics regarding the numbers of individuals holding to the various religions. It may be of interest to others also. www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm Best regards, Boyd Ritchie ------------------------------ From: "Todd Ellner" Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 08:16:44 -0700 Subject: eskrima: RE:MR.s Clay and Alcindor Tom Meadows writes: >I had to explain to my 81 year old Catholic mother yesterday that >Muslims outnumber Christians by something like four to one on the >planet. Most Americans are clueless in that area... You explained incorrectly. The last time I checked there were roughly equal numbers. >And while we are getting the Middle Easterners to "Clean house", how do >you think they must perceive our Christian right wing militia groups and >the Ku KLux Klan, all of which are legally organized, and are an >accepted part of our culture. We may not like them but until they cross >the line, we do not legally interfere with them. First difference: The KKK and 'Christian right wing militia' do not enjoy wide popular support. Second difference: They are largely directed inwards at this country Third difference: The Klan, at least, is heavily infiltrated and suppressed. ------------------------------ From: "LARRY ST. CLAIR" Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 11:54:26 -0700 Subject: eskrima: Re: Tuhon Sayoc hey Steven, I could really tell that it was just a crumb of what is really going on. he even told us everything we were learning was obsolete because they already have newer material, lol. it was very amazing in alot of areas. he at one point pulled out a padded stick and began demonstrating the same template we were already doing but from long range. incredibly fast he began zipping through it like it was nothing and just tearing up his assistant. the amazing thing about the templates is that once you get cut once its over. not just because of that cut but because of the sequence that follows. my partner and I really enjoyed it and are trying to figure a few ways to get more training in the very near future. where are you located? thanks in advance for the response, Saint ------------------------------ From: "mark pineda" Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 11:20:51 -0700 Subject: eskrima: Training equipment Hi everyone out there in FMA land. I was just surfing the web and came across 2 sites selling equipment that you might find of interest: http://www.akearmory.com * Sells sticks and other fma stuff http://www.angelfire.com/extreme3/pknives.com * Sells tanto style aluminum practice folders Join 18 million Eudora users by signing up for a free Eudora Web-Mail account at http://www.eudoramail.com ------------------------------ From: "Anthony Dawdy" Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 19:33:17 Subject: eskrima: Knife Seminar A quick note to remind everyone of the Tim Hartman Phase 3 Mano y Daga Knife seminar. You do not have to have completed Phase 1 or 2 to attend, each Phase can stand on its own. Saturday October 13, 2001 From 2:30 until 6:30 p.m. Contact: A. Paul Dawdy apdawdy@hotmail.com (519) 659-0521 Cost is $30 if paid before October 4, or $40 after. WMAA members will receive a member’s discount. It will be held at: O.K.K.A. Studios 1472 Dundas St. London, Ontario (between Buffalo & Detroit) A. Paul Dawdy O.K.K.A. Studios _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ From: BillyJa695@aol.com Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 17:34:13 EDT Subject: eskrima: Numbers In a message dated 9/18/01 10:31:39 AM, eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: >I had to explain to my 81 year old Catholic mother yesterday that >Muslims outnumber Christians by something like four to one on the >planet. Most Americans are clueless in that area... > Oops, the above is not accurate. According to the USA Today ( 9/18/2001, page 23A), it is estimated that Christianity has 1.97 billion adherents in the world. Islam has an estimated 1.18 billion adherents. Hinduism is next with 799 million and then Buddhism with 355 million. This pretty much falls in line with what I knew. Of course, the term Christianity would encompass the Orthodox branch, Catholicism and the various Protestant denominations. Take care, Brian Johns Columbus, Ohio ------------------------------ From: "Marc Denny" Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 15:40:04 -0700 Subject: eskrima: STRATFOR A Howl of Greeting to All: With the current state of the world, I am sure many of us are frustrated with the quality of the reporting by the major media. Recently I have come across www.STRATFOR.com While there is lots of good analysis and reporting for free at the site, for $8 a month or less if one subscribes for a year, there is more. The following may be of interet to the list here. I for one would be glad of informed comments from list members. Woof, Crafty Dog - ------------------------- Malaysia: Warning of Extremist Threat 1600 GMT, 010911 (This means Greenwhich Mean Time, 09/11/01 -Crafty) Summary Malaysia's prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, recently warned that Muslim militants were trying to establish a union of Islamic states comprising Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Mahathir's claims follow a series of incidents in Malaysia targeting Islamic groups, which are the biggest challenge to Mahathir's government. Kuala Lumpur, criticized for its lack of political freedoms, is now seeking foreign support for its crackdown on opposition forces by claiming a threat from the militants. Analysis Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Sept. 1 that Muslim militants are seeking to create an Islamic union of states comprising Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Mahathir said the recently discovered group Kumpulan Militan Malaysia, implicated in several violent acts and robberies, is behind the plot and already has links with similar groups in Indonesia and the Philippines, according to Malaysia's Utusan Express daily. Mahathir's warning comes amid a nationwide campaign in Malaysia against Islamic extremism, which the government claims is linked to its main political opposition, the Parti Islam Se Malaysia (PAS). By alleging a region-wide threat from militant Islamists, Mahathir hopes to counter domestic and foreign criticism of his opposition crackdown. The government, though, ultimately hopes to gain international investment by linking Malaysia's economic and political stability to that of the entire region. Malaysia weathered the 1997 Asian financial meltdown better than most of its neighbors, and the country has largely been the stable pillar of Asian economic growth and unity. But Kuala Lumpur is increasingly at risk of experiencing the same internal political and economic troubles of neighbors like Indonesia and the Philippines, and if it collapses, Singapore and nearby countries would soon follow suit. Layoffs are on the rise, exports are falling and the ringgit, the Malaysian currency, is still pegged to the dollar and under pressure. The ongoing economic malaise is contributing to the rising power and boldness of opposition groups. Both these factors have stirred latent ethnic and religious tensions while weakening the support -- and nearly unquestioned power -- of the ruling party and Mahathir. Malaysia: Showing Signs of Rising Islamic Militancy Malaysian police June 7 arrested nine members of a group allegedly involved in a series of attacks aimed at creating a purist Islamic society in the country. The national police chief has said the group previously fought in Afghanistan and on the Indonesian island of Ambon for the purpose of jihad, or holy war. If this is true, the arrests may indicate a growing problem for Malaysia as Aghan-trained fighters present an increasing threat to Malaysia's internal security. Analysis Nine Islamic militants are being held in Kuala Lumpur on suspicion of being involved in several killings - including that of politician Joe Fernandez, a member of Malaysia's ruling coalition. Other crimes the group allegedly committed include the murders of two ethnic Indians; an armed robbery; an attack on a police station; and the bombings of a church, an Indian temple and a video center. Related Analysis: After the Election: Mahathir and Muslim Fundamentalism - -30 November 1999 Mahathir to Strike a Blow at Radical Muslims - -20 July 2000 Malaysia Scolds Indonesia for Seeking Western Sponsor - -20 May 2000 Malaysia Attempts to Capitalize on Approval - -22 September 1999 The ascendance of PAS in particular has long concerned Mahathir. The party, whose leaders accuse the government of being too secular, made surprising gains in elections last November. Meanwhile, the arrest of more than 10 suspected Kumpulan Militan Malaysia members in early August -- accused of bank robberies, murders and bombings -- shows the increasing violence Islamic fundamentalists are using to achieve their goals. The fear of Malaysian political instability, and the possible shift in power to a more fundamentalist Islamic regime, is already creating a stir in neighboring Singapore. During a recent visit, Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew expressed concern about the rising tide of Islamic extremism and its threat to Malaysia's ruling coalition. Lee also warned that if militant Islam took root in Malaysia, it could threaten Singapore, the daily Malaysiakini reported. Lee also brokered several deals with Mahathir, including one under which Malaysia will supply water to the city-state at a much higher cost and in lower amounts than originally requested. Responding to comments that the deals were highly biased toward Malaysia, Lee said the possibility of dealing with a government not led by Mahathir's party after the 2004 elections would be even more problematic, the daily The Star reported. Lee essentially said it was better to make an unbalanced deal with the current Malaysian government than to risk trying to negotiate with PAS in the future. Concern over Islamic fundamentalism in Malaysia is also striking a chord in Jakarta and Manila, where new leaders face similar challenges from Muslim militants. Both Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri discussed the issue with Mahathir during visits in August, according to statements by Malaysia's foreign minister. The Philippine government has further warned of links between its country's Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebel group and Malaysian militants. In Indonesia several Malaysians linked to the Kumpulan Militan Malaysia were recently implicated in a series of bombings of Christian churches. Jakarta has long expressed concerns that Islamic separatists in the far western Aceh province are supplied through Malaysia. The regional fear of extremism and terrorism was also bolstered by the U.S. trade representative to Jakarta and the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific Affairs who alleged there are links from suspected Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden to militants in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. With regional and even U.S. confirmation of a growing threat from Islamic militancy, Mahathir hopes to quell domestic and particularly foreign criticism of his opposition crackdown, which has extended beyond Islamists. As part of its campaign, the government has arrested opposition forces under its internal security act, put heavy restrictions on political demonstrations and threatened actions against suspected anti-government organizations and leaders. In justifying the clampdown, Rais Yatim, a minister in the Malaysian prime minister's department, said Western nations should not criticize the internal security laws of developing countries for hampering human rights because when "law and order collapses, there will be no more rights to be protected," Utusan's online edition reported. Attempting to paint the suppression as a campaign against Islamic instability and not as one against his opponents in general, Mahathir said he himself does not fear political change. By convincing regional and foreign powers of the dangers of an Islamic militant menace, Mahathir can help ensure that the international community overlooks non-Islamic opposition members targeted by the government. Ultimately, however, it is not through crushing the opposition but through revitalizing the Malaysian economy that Mahathir hopes to ensure the future of his party. The prime minister is trying to convince foreign investors that Malaysia is an attractive destination for their funds despite perceptions that the state too closely regulates the economy. Speaking at the Malaysian Capital Market Summit 2001 in Kuala Lumpur, Mahathir, who also serves as finance minister, said Malaysia has learned from the Asian economic crisis and is correcting its "past mistakes," according to Malaysiakini. In particular, Mahathir pointed out how Kuala Lumpur was eliminating unhealthy business practices by promoting corporate restructuring and transparency and consolidating the banking system. Kuala Lumpur is now trying to convince foreign nations that a stable Malaysia is vital for the region, and therefore they should invest in the country despite past criticisms of Malaysia's business or human rights record. If the economic problems continue, the argument goes, Islamic militants and fundamentalists will destabilize Malaysia, spreading to Indonesia and the Philippines and threatening Singapore and all of Southeast Asia. With Singapore already on board, and Washington increasingly concerned with the spread of bin Laden-linked terrorism in Asia, Mahathir may finally have found the solution for the troubles plaguing his government since the Asian crisis of 1997. - ------------- Note the date: Malaysia: Showing Signs of Rising Islamic Militancy 2000 GMT, 010615 (ie June) Summary Malaysian police June 7 arrested nine members of a group allegedly involved in a series of attacks aimed at creating a purist Islamic society in the country. The national police chief has said the group previously fought in Afghanistan and on the Indonesian island of Ambon for the purpose of jihad, or holy war. If this is true, the arrests may indicate a growing problem for Malaysia as Aghan-trained fighters present an increasing threat to Malaysia's internal security. Analysis Nine Islamic militants are being held in Kuala Lumpur on suspicion of being involved in several killings - including that of politician Joe Fernandez, a member of Malaysia's ruling coalition. Other crimes the group allegedly committed include the murders of two ethnic Indians; an armed robbery; an attack on a police station; and the bombings of a church, an Indian temple and a video center. The June 7 arrests come almost a year after a raid on a Malaysian military facility by a group linked to the Al-Ma'unah Islamic sect. The group took more than a hundred machine guns and small arms as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition by truck. Though they are not connected to the Al-Ma'unah sect, the nine suspects previously fought in Muslim uprisings in Afghanistan and Indonesia, Malaysia's national police chief, Norian Mai, has said. The alleged activities of the Malaysian jihad warriors taken into police custody show the increasing violence Islamic fundamentalists are using to achieve their goals. Though only a fraction of Malaysian Muslims have called for a purist Islamic state, the arrest of reportedly foreign-trained and warfare-experienced fundamentalists may reveal a new strain of violence among Islamic militants - and a growing threat to Malaysian stability and government. It is possible the Malaysian government or its ruling coalition, the Barisan National Coalition, used the military facility raid as an excuse to turn up pressure on the Islamic fundamentalist movement. The ruling coalition faces a political threat from the fundamentalist Muslim party Parti Islam Se Malaysia (PAS), which made surprising gains in the Nov. 29 elections. If the government links the recent violence to PAS, the party's political following could deteriorate. If the suspects actually were trained in Afghanistan and Indonesia, as the police chief said, Malaysia could be headed down the path of instability already trod by neighbors such as the Philippines and Indonesia. The allegations may be substantive. Saudi millionaire Osama Bin Laden, an alleged terrorism sponsor, has many connections to Malaysia. Bin Laden reportedly used $3 million from a bank account in Malaysia to aid the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas in the Philippines, Philippine Headline News Online reported June 21, 2000. Malaysia also serves as home to many Bin Laden followers and reportedly has been used as a trans-shipment point for arms by Bin Laden. Malaysia's Muslims have essentially remained nonviolent while calling for a purist Muslim state. The involvement of actively violent, Bin Laden-sponsored Muslim fighters who are experienced in warfare would present a new and very real danger to Malaysia's internal security. Afghan-trained fighters have been involved in violent clashes in many areas around the world, including Chechnya, Bosnia, Central Asia, Kenya and Yemen. Muslim fighters sponsored by Bin Laden have consistently threatened the security of the Philippines. Abu Anzar, a former member of Philippine Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf, claimed Bin Laden and his brother-in-law Mohammad Jamal Khalifa founded the International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) in 1992 to front funding for extremist groups, the Times of India reported Aug. 8, 2000. Anzar said Bin Laden used IIRO as a façade to send funds to the Abu Sayyaf to buy arms. The Abu Sayyaf recently kidnapped 28 people, including three Americans, and is now virtually at war with the Philippine military. Malaysia historically has remained relatively peaceful, largely due to the prosperity of its majority Muslim population. But in the Philippines and Indonesia, financial problems have plagued the minority Muslim populations, leaving them desolate and easily open to calls to action from Islamic fundamentalists. Malaysia's economy, however, is suffering and will continue to do so, especially as the global economy founders and the Asian economy sinks. Should the militants recently arrested in Malaysia turn out to have the same foreign training and experience as those in neighboring countries, Kuala Lumpur's internal security problems could begin to resemble those of the Philippines. Though only nine were arrested, they probably have many more contemporaries. Malaysia is set to fall in line behind Indonesia and the Philippines with the emergence of increasingly hard-line Islamic militants within its borders. ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 18:54:41 PDT Subject: eskrima: . ------------------------------ End of Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V8 #416 **************************************** To unsubscribe from the eskrima-digest send the command: unsubscribe eskrima-digest -or- unsubscribe eskrima-digest your.old@address in the BODY (top line, left justified) of a "plain text" e-mail addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com. Old digest issues are available via ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com. Copyright 1994-2001: Ray Terry and the Martial Arts Resource Standard disclaimers apply.