ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 21, 2009) – Abu Sayyaf terrorists reneged on a deal to free one of three Red Cross workers they kidnapped in the southern Filipino province of Sulu.
Senator Richard Gordon, who is also chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, said the terrorists promised him to release one hostage if security forces which surrounded their jungle lair in the town of Indanan would pull out.
Troops have repositioned away from the Abu Sayyaf on Thursday, but the terrorists now wanted armed village guards helping the military to pull out also.
Three soldiers had been killed and 19 more wounded in fierce clashes earlier this week after the terrorists attempted to break through the military cordon.
Military officials were getting impatient over Gordon’s frequent calls to pull out soldiers from the town to allow negotiations with terrorists. The Abu Sayyaf has threatened to behead one of its hostages if the soldiers get near them or if fighting breaks out again.
The Abu Sayyaf said it will not negotiate unless the military pulls out from the town. It previously demanded the military to get out of Sulu. It was reported that the terrorists wanted between $1 million to $10 million ransoms for the captives.
The aid workers were kidnapped on January 15 after inspecting a water and sanitation project at a prison in the town of Patikul.
Security forces have cordoned the Abu Sayyaf’s jungle lair to prevent the terrorists from escaping or merge with other rebel groups. The Abu Sayyaf, which means the “bearer of the sword, was behind the spate of bombings and kidnappings-for-ransom and has been tagged as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States. (Mindanao Examiner)
No comments:
Post a Comment