| The US provides UH-1H 'Huey' helicopters to Philippines |
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| World Affairs Talk | |
| Tuesday, 12 June 2007 | |
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These helicopters would be used to combat terrorism against communist guerrillas and Muslim militants and also to provide humanitarian assistance. The Philippines has one of the most poorly equipped armed forces in the Asia Pacific region and long needed some helicopters to battle communist and Muslim insurgencies operation in the countryside area. The UH-1H 'Huey' consignment was the first batch of 20 surplus Hueys refurbished at a cost of $22 million. These helicopters will be in great assistance of the Philippines military as its air wing has long been inefficient in dealing with insurgencies. Though the helicopters are of Vietnam-War era, these can be used in night operations, unlike some of the existing MG-520 attack choppers. On 08 June, In the Island of Mindanao, southern Philippines, the government forces fought with the New People's Army rebels leaving four soldiers and ten rebels killed. In a separate incident close by, four government soldiers died and eight more were injured when their convoy hit a landmine planted by the communist rebels. The New People's Army, being the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is waging a Maoist rebellion in the region since 1969. Also in the southern Philippines, Muslim militants detonated a powerful remote control bomb inside a passenger bus parked at a terminal and left 11 civilians injured. The bomb was fashioned from a 60 mm mortar and triggered by a cell phone. On 07 June, the Philippines police force issued a high alert in Mindanao region after intelligence reports suggested that "graduates" from bomb making training camps run by Zulkifli bin Hir, an operative with the Islamist terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, are planning to attack. Share & Bookmark             |
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| Last Updated ( Saturday, 16 June 2007 ) |
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