ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 15, 2009) – A proposal to grant amnesty or open peace negotiations with the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group is causing a demoralization in the police and military in the southern Philippines.
Senator Richard Gordon has proposed to grant amnesty to the terrorist group after the recent release of kidnapped Italian aid worker Eugenio Vagni after six months in captivity in the southern island of Sulu.
Sulu deputy governor Nur Ana Sahidulla also said that Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad told her that they are open for talks on amnesty. The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for the spate of kidnappings-for-ransom and bombings in the Mindanao.
“We cannot afford to hold a peace talk to the Abu Sayyaf or worst allow they be granted amnesty. The Abu Sayyaf is a terrorist group that had killed not only policemen and soldiers, but innocent people as well.”
“There is growing demoralization now in the ranks of the military in Sulu and perhaps even in areas where soldiers are fighting the Abu Sayyaf,” said one government soldier, who spoke on condition that he would not be named.
Policemen in Sulu province also claimed the proposals to start peace talks or grant amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf has demoralized many of them.
“How many policemen were killed by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu? Our good provincial commander Julasirim Kasim was killed by the terrorists. They murdered innocent civilians, innocent Muslims. There must be no amnesty, not even peace talks. The Abu Sayyaf and their allies must also be killed so we may have peace in Sulu,” a policeman said.
Kasim was ambushed in May and killed along with were his brother and three other policemen.
Sulu Governor Sakur Tan has also opposed any amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf, saying, the government does not negotiate with terrorists. He blamed the Abu Sayyaf for the series of bomb attacks and kidnappings in Sulu.
“There should be no negotiations with terrorists. Terrorists must pay their crimes,” said Tan, who survived a road bombing in May blamed by the police and military to the Abu Sayyaf group.
Tan, backed by the government, has declared a state of emergency in Sulu to allow authorities to run after Abu Sayyaf supporters who are providing them refuge.
Philippine authorities said the Abu Sayyaf has links with the Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiya, who was also involved in the kidnapping of Vagni and two other Red Cross workers Swiss national Andreas Notter and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba in January in Sulu’s Patikul town.
Lawmakers also opposed the proposals, saying, it would go against the government’s policy of not negotiating with terrorists.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has rejected any amnesty with the Abu Sayyaf and ordered the military to pursue the terrorist group and its supporters.
The military said it will strictly follow the chain of command and that operations against the Abu Sayyaf will not cease. “The Armed Forces will strictly follow the chain of command. The operation against the Abu Sayyaf is continuing. We are focus in our mission and that is to fight terrorism,” Cacho said.
But Cacho admitted the proposed amnesty and peace talks with the Abu Sayyaf have become a big issue in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “It is a political issue. It is for the government to settle, but that’s a big issue in the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” she said.
Cacho said they have not received reports that troops were demoralized, but she was quick to say that the military respect the opinions of the soldiers. “Soldiers are entitled to their opinion and this should be respected,” she said.
Secretary Avelino Razon, the presidential peace adviser, also rejected amnesty proposal to the Abu Sayyaf, saying, it goes against the government’s policy of no-negotiations with terrorists.
It was unknown whether the proposed amnesty or peace talks with the Abu Sayyaf would affect US military assistance to the Philippines. Hundreds of US troops are deployed in the southern Philippines, including Sulu, and were helping the local military defeat the Abu Sayyaf since 2001.
The Abu Sayyaf is listed as a foreign terrorist organization by Washington.
Philippine authorities said several Jemaah Islamiya terrorists, among them Mauiya, Dulmatin, Zulkifli bin Hir and Umar Patek, who are all wanted by Indonesia for the spate of deadly attacks, including the Bali bombing in 2002, has joined the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.
The US has offered at least $16 million rewards for their capture. (Mindanao Examiner)
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Sayyaf reneged on deal to free Red Cross hostage; demands more troop pull out in 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)
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Troops to pull out from terrorist lair after Sayyaf threatens to behead one Red Cross hostage in the Philippines
A government soldier who is injured in clashes with Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the southern Philippine island of Sulu grimaces in pain as military nurses clean his wound on Thursday, March 19, 2009 in Zamboanga City. Western Mindanao military chief Marines Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga also pinned medals to the wpunded. Senator Richard Gordon says government troops would be pull out from the jungle of Indanan where the Abu Sayyaf is holding hostage three Red Cross workers - Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba who were kidnapped in Sulu on January 15. Terrorist leader Albader Parad threatened to behead one of the foreigners if troops attacked them in Indanan following two days of clashes early this week. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Jung Francisco) The decision came after a terrorist leader Albader Parad threatened to behead one of the hostages after two days of fighting left three soldiers and an undetermined number of kidnappers dead and wounded in Indanan town.
The Abu Sayyaf, blamed for the spate of terrorism and kidnappings-for-ransom, is holding Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino woman Mary Jean Lacaba who are working for the International Committee of the Red Cross.
They were snatched January 15 after inspecting a water and sanitation project at a prison facility in the town of Patikul.
Senator Richard Gordon, who is also the chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, said the military agreed to reposition troops away from where the terrorists and their hostages are holding out.
“The soldiers will be repositioned away from the Abu Sayyaf,” he said, adding, the Abu Sayyaf promised to free one of the captives soon after troops are pulled out from the area.
Parad, a former Moro National Liberation Front rebel, warned that he would decapitate one of the foreign hostages if troops get near them or if fighting erupts again. He was wounded on Monday’s fighting after troops shot him while trying to break through the military cordon which is also being guard by policemen and armed civilians.
Western Mindanao military chief, Marine Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga: “The presence of the military in the area has to be maintained, but of course in the bigger picture, we still would allow any other peaceful efforts to bring the hostages back to safety.”
But Allaga said the military will not be cowed by Abu Sayyaf threats to kill one hostage.
“In a situation like this, it is like a battle of nerves and everybody seems to be panicking and everything. We are dealing here with a group of terrorists and we already saw their true colors in previous atrocities.”
“We should not allow ourselves to be subjected to the whims and caprices of the terrorists. We are dealing here with a terrorist group,” he told reporters in Zamboanga City after visiting soldiers wounded in clashes with the Abu Sayyaf at a military hospital.
The military said 19 soldiers were wounded in two days of fighting in Sulu. The bodies of three soldiers killed in the clashes were flown to Manila on Thursday. (With a report from Jung Francisco)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Don't risk self, Moro rebels tell Filipino actor who wants to negotiate with Sayyaf to free Red Cross staff
Three kidnapped Red Cross workers Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba pose with Sulu deputy governor Nur Anna Sahidulla on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 in the hinterland of Indanan town. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Nickee Butlangan) SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 29, 2009) – Moro rebels have dissuaded a Filipino movie star from negotiating with Abu Sayyaf militants holding hostage three members of the Red Cross in the southern island of Sulu.
This after Robin Padilla, who converted to Islam, was reported to be helping in the negotiation for the safe release of Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba.
“This is an unsolicited advice, but we are offering this as a sign of our concern to you and to protect the image of Islam and the Muslims now defiled by most or all of the current leaders of the Abu Sayyaf Group,” said Muhammad Ameen, a senior leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group.
Ameen said: “The kidnappers have only one thing in mind and that is money and they don’t discriminate whether you are their co-religionists or not, as long as you have the capacity to pay ransom.”
Padilla, who was in Zamboanga City on Wednesday, previously negotiated with the Abu Sayyaf for the release of several students and teachers kidnapped in 2000 in Basilan Island.
Nur Misuari, head of the Moro National Liberation Front rebel group which signed a peace treaty with Manila in 1996, also offered to help in the negotiations to free the Abu Sayyaf.
The three aid workers were kidnapped January 15 after inspecting a humanitarian project at a prison facility in the town of Patikul. Police linked a dismissed jail guard, Raden Abu, to the kidnapping, and said he handed over the hostages to the Abu Sayyaf headed by Albader Parad and Abu Pula.
On Wednesday, kidnappers allowed Sulu deputy governor Nur Anna Sahidulla to see and talk to the hostages on a hinterland village in Indanan town. The hostages said they are being treated fairly and were allowed by their captors to use their laptop and cell phones.
The hostages have also asked for books and personal grooming items that will be delivered by a contact, according to Filipino Senator Richard Gordon, who is the head of the Philippine National Red Cross.
Photographs of the meeting were also released to the media. They were taken from a mobile phone and showed Notter, Vagni and Lacaba posing with Sahidulla.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has confirmed the meeting, but declined to make any further details available regarding the location or how the contact was made in order not to jeopardize the safety of captives.
“It's a positive sign that this face-to-face contact took place,” said Alain Aeschlimann, the head of the ICRC's operations for Asia Pacific in Geneva. “According to Vice-Governor Sahidulla, they are fine and in good health.”
He said there has been regular phone contact between the Red Cross and the abducted staff since they were snatched. The latest call with the three took place on Wednesday morning.
”They continue to sound calm and composed and say they are doing alright,” said Aeschlimann. “We are always glad to be able to hear their voices and know they are together. Their loved ones are thinking about them all the time and trying to stay strong, while continuing to hope that Eugenio, Mary-Jean and Andreas will be home soon.”
Sulu Governor Sakur Tan maintained that the government will not pay ransom in exchange for the freedom of the captives. “We are firm with that policy. The government will not pay ransom to the kidnappers in exchange for the release of the aid workers,” he said.
Tan, head of the crisis committee, said the photos released to the media are proof that the negotiations are positively developing. "It shows that the task force is doing alright and that we are doing something on our level to address the problem," Tan said in a television interview on Thursday.
The ICRC said it is aware of other information circulating in the media regarding discussions with the kidnappers and efforts to try to resolve the situation.
“At this stage, the ICRC can only confirm that direct contact was established with the kidnappers. We are not in a position to comment or disclose any further information.”
“We appreciate everyone's understanding during this difficult time that we must be very cautious in what we say to avoid any risk of jeopardizing the safety and well-being of Mary-Jean, Andreas and Eugenio, or the possibility of achieving a positive outcome,” Aeschlimann said. (With a report from Nickee Butlangan)
Monday, January 19, 2009
Security forces continue hunt for ICRC kidnappers
Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, right, and Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)The three – Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba – were seized January 15 in Patikul town on their way to the airport after inspecting water and sanitation projects.
“Military and police forces are pursuing the kidnappers. There will be no stopping until they free all the victims,” Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan told the Mindanao Examiner.
Tan did not give details of the operations, saying, it could jeopardize the mission to recover the captives safely. He also designated Fazlur Abdullah, head of the Sulu Area Coordinating Center, as the crisis spokesman.
Sen. Richard Gordon on Monday was quoted by journalists in Manila as saying the kidnappers phoned the Red Cross and asked that the military operation be halted.
Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, did not give further details about the phone call.
The German press agency reported at the weekend that the kidnappers are planning to demand $5 million ransom in exchange for the safe release of the hostages. It quoted unnamed military officials, who said the gang holding the trio is led by Abu Sayyaf leaders Albader Parad and Abu Pula, former Moro National Liberation Front rebels, implicated in many kidnappings-for- ransom in Sulu.
Tan said the operation must not be stopped. “We should exert more effort to pressure the kidnappers to free all their innocent captives. That’s the only way to get them back,” he said.
Tan said the government will not negotiate with the kidnappers. “I am warning those who would try to negotiate and pay ransom to the kidnappers, we will hold you criminally responsible,” he said.
The military also said it will not stop the rescue operation in Sulu, where hundreds of troops are combing dense jungles where the hostages were spotted.
“There is an Area Coordination Center in Sulu where various agencies converge to address issues, resolve conflicts and find the best solution to current problems besetting the province. It is headed by local government officials and the military and police as members. Hence, it is thru this committee that appropriate actions to resolve the ICRC kidnapping are decided upon. We cannot unilaterally declare the termination of our rescue operations,” said Lt. Steffani Cacho, a regional military spokeswoman.
The ICRC said the hostages made a phone call on Friday, but it provided no information about the conversation, except the hostages were not harmed by their captors.
“The three have been able to call the ICRC directly and said they were unharmed. There is no further information available on their whereabouts or who is holding them. We are, of course, relieved to have heard their voices and to know that they are alive,” said the head of the ICRC's delegation in Manila, Jean-Daniel Tauxe.
“We are not in a position to comment further, since our main priority is ensuring that nothing jeopardizes their safety, but it goes without saying that their families, as well as their colleagues, are hoping for their safe and swift return.”
The humanitarian organization said the incident has not affected the ICRC's operations in central Mindanao, where around 300,000 people remain displaced due to fighting between government forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels.
“The ICRC plans to continue its operations in the Philippines and fully expects to carry on assisting and protecting those affected by the armed conflict,” said Tauxe. “For the displaced, each day is filled with uncertainty, anxiety and insecurity. They worry that there will be another flare up in fighting, they're unable to support their families, they don't know when they'll be able to go home again and they have no idea what the future will bring. That's a very difficult situation to be in.”
Aside from the Abu Sayyaf, police and military also implicated a former prison guard in the kidnappings of the ICRC team. Authorities blamed the Abu Sayyaf as behind the spate of terrorism in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Sulu Launches "Fruit Of Hope" Program
Sulu Governor Sakur Tan launched Monday the so-called "Fruits of Hope" program to help local farmers sell their produce, especially exotic fruits, such as durian and mangosteen berries.
Senator Richard Gordon, former Tourism Secretary, is helping Tan market local agricultural products, including coffee beans – Robusta and Arabica – which are abundant on Jolo island, about 950 kilometers south of Manila.
Gordon, accompanied by Presidential deputy peace adviser Nabil Tan and executives from Shopwise and Shoemart Supermarkets, Nestle and Asia-America Initiative, led the launching of "Invest in Peace and Prosperity – Fruit of Hope Program."
The program, he said, aims to enhance peace and prosperity in Mindanao.
"Six tons of fresh fruits from Sulu were ferried by a military C-130 cargo plane for supermarkets in Manila. And we have more fruits and perhaps the best coffee in the country too, all ready for buyers," the governor said.
"By a substantial shipment of farm products such as fruits from Sulu, will create the framework for peace through economic development. This initiative will eventually link the farmers of Sulu to big businesses and small retailers in Manila," he said.
Tan said the international nongovernmental organization, Asia-America Initiative, headed by Albert Santoli, has supported the program and promised to help even more by tapping other NGOs to help support the peace and development in Sulu.
"This multi-faceted partnership to build economic prosperity will build trust and confidence between the people of Luzon and Mindanao."
"This is a wonderful example of how people of many faiths and cultural backgrounds can recognizance their common humanity and realize that peace is possible and poverty that feeds violence can be overcome," Santoli said.
President Gloria Arroyo in August ordered a "humanitarian and development offensive" in Jolo island.
Gordon, for his part, said the government will put more efforts in Jolo and other areas in Mindanao to help farmers sell their products. "There are plenty of fruits. We should help in the livelihood component of the people. If there is no livelihood, there will be no peace," he said.
The Fruit of Hope program is most dynamic development and is a product of many positive developments in Sulu community. Aside from fruits, Sulu is also abundant in coconut and abaca and is known for its rich marine resources. (Mindanao Examiner)