Wolves in sheep’s clothing
Significant to both the cases of the Philippines and Israel, the terrorist fronts exploit the democratic space to raise funds.
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Daily TribuneSignificant to both the cases of the Philippines and Israel, the terrorist fronts exploit the democratic space to raise funds.
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The government's problem with the National Democratic Front, which is the front organization of the Communist Party of the Philippines that represents various pseudo-rights organizations affiliated with the terrorist group, is a microcosm of what has been the dilemma of Israel.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA, has been suspected of being in league with the terrorist group Hamas. Israel wanted it removed from Gaza post-war.
Similar to the Salugpungan schools for indigenous Lumad that the government found to be heavily influenced by the New People's Army, or NPA, the UNRWA has schools that Israel is accusing of molding anti-semitic and jihadist sentiment among the Palestinian youth.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry report cited revelations by 14 UNRWA staffers who pointed to the participation of the UN body's school graduates in terror attacks against civilians.
In 2018, Washington decided to suspend, then stop entirely, its contribution to the UNRWA budget, depriving it of its largest donor and sparking a funding crunch, due to its terror links.
US President Joe Biden's administration later fully restored the country's support.
Sometime in 2021, the local Anti-Terrorism Council warned against providing money and material support to the Communist Party of the Philippine-New People's Army-National Democratic Front, or CPP-NPA-NDF, legal proxies.
The ATC designated the CPP-NPA-NDF as terrorist organizations in 2021 pursuant to the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act, or ATA, of 2020.
The United States also considered the communist group as a foreign terrorist organization on 9 August 2002 and continues to include it in its annual foreign terrorist organizations list.
The European Union designated the CPP-NPA a terrorist organization on 28 October 2002 and reaffirmed the designation on 13 January 2020. Australia did the same on 28 October 2002, later removing the tag, but listing it again on 13 November 2013.
The United Kingdom designated the CPP-NPA a terror group on 14 August 2002, reaffirming this on 7 July 2020. New Zealand tagged the CPP-NPA as terrorists on 11 October 2020, renewing the designation on 26 September 2019.
The ATA stated that any person who provides material support to a terrorist individual or organization, knowing that such individual or organization is committing or planning to commit terrorist acts, is similarly guilty. Per the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act any person who makes available property, funds, or financial services to designated persons or organizations shall be penalized.
Significant to both the cases of the Philippines and Israel, the terrorist fronts exploit the democratic space to raise funds for the groups that aim to topple the government and, in the case of Hamas, the total eradication of a race.
The UN is suspected to be largely anti-Israel due to the funding provided by the oil-rich Arab nations.
The legitimate Palestinian cause is thus mixed in with the destructive objectives of Hamas which ruled the Gaza Strip and launched the 7 October massacre.
One of the many lessons from the war on Gaza is that stopping organizations that have evil intentions requires cutting off their sources of funding and other means of support.
Funding unfortunately comes from groups that have dark designs on the civilized world aided by nations, some unwittingly, fooled by pretensions of rights protection.
