Author: Atul Rawat
Publication: Organiser
Date: August 13, 2000
KIDNAPPING of innocent
and vulnerable people seems to be the favourable propaganda tool for the
Islamic terrorists worldwide. The Islamic terrorists of Philippines
are no exception. Recently, they had kidnapped a group of twenty-one
people which included foreigners, and women. Now these terrorists
have declared a jehad against the Philippine Government. The gang
led by Abul Sayyaf declared that they also supported the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front's call for jehad. The Muslims are demanding that Philippines
be divided and a Muslim state be created in Southern Philippines.
The declaration for jehad
was made by the MILF two weeks ago claiming it to be a struggle against
oppression. Out of the twenty-one people kidnapped these terrorists
are still holding two Germans, three French nationals, two Finnes, two
South Africans, two Filipinos and three Malaysians after releasing a German
woman, six Malaysians and three Filipinos. They released recently
a German reporter also but are still holding five reporters who were kidnapped
while covering the hostage saga. The authorities in the Philippine
government which are engaged in negotiating with these terrorists have
started to appeal to various journalists to voluntarily leave the Jolo
island so that they are not exposed to kidnapping. Now only about
a dozen journalists most of them Filipino remain in Jolo island.
The Government negotiators
are trying their level best to keep the terrorists in good humour.
They are maintaining as low profile as possible. They are not even
condemning the call for jehad. Robert Aventajado the top negotiator
even said that the call for jehad would not affect his talk with the rebels.
He said grimly keeping a low profile that, "We cannot dictate to them.
But from my point of view it will not affect the negotiations". Aventajado
is so much worried about further abductions that he has appealed to media
people to shift to nearby Zamboanga.
These terrorists who
are abducting people in the name of Islam are also accepting large ransoms
upto one million dollars per person for those who have already been released
and are asking for more money. Though officially Philippine government
has denied paying money, local officials have testified to the payments.
Military capabilities of Philippines are not sufficient to handle the Islamic
terrorists. The US has recently supplied them with military hardware.
But the main need remains training of the Philippine forces, without which
the very existence of Philippines as one state is at stake.
