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Abu Sayyaf Rebels `Beheadī US Tourist
June 2001
| Rebels of the Abu Sayyaf movement in the Philippines
claim they have beheaded one of three American hostages kidnapped in May.
The hostage was reportedly executed because the Philippine government
refused to call off its "all-out war" against the Abu Sayyaf movement,
which is fighting for an independent Islamic state in the south. The
rebels are now threatening to behead the two remaining American hostages. |
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Celebrations in the Philippines to mark the 103rd anniversary of
independence from Spanish colonial rule were marred by the news that rebels of
the Abu Sayyaf movement had executed one of the hostages they are holding on
the southern island of Basilan.
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The Abu Sayyaf group, whose name
means "bearer of the sword," split from the Moro National Liberation
Front in 1991. It's one of the smaller Islamist groups fighting to
establish an Iranian-style Islamic state in the southern Philippines.
Founded by a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, it's
connected to Islamic fundamentalist organisations around the world,
including the network of Usama bin Laden, who's alleged to have
masterminded the 1998 bombings of US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. |
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The rebels claimed in a radio broadcast that they had
beheaded 40-year-old Californian tourist Guillermo Sobrero, one of three
Americans held captive. They were seized from a beach resort on the western
island of Palawan last month along with 17 Filipinos and brought by boat to
the island of Basilan. Nine of the hostages managed to escape, but the gunmen
killed at least two of their Filipino captives, with one of them found
decapitated.
Ruthless
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo says the execution proves once again
that Abu Sayyaf is a group of ruthless bandits that has no qualms at murdering
for the sake of ransom money. She declared that the government will continue
its war on the rebels.
But as the Philippine president pledged to destroy the Abu Sayyaf, the
self-proclaimed Islamic independence fighters renewed threats to kill their
other US hostages, Christian missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham.
The execution of the US tourist has provoked an international outcry. The
United States and the Vatican called for the unconditional release of all the
hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf. Washington has sent several agents of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation to the Philippines to provide technical
assistance.
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Abu Sayyaf is believed to have a
membership of several hundred young Islamic radicals. It refuses to
negotiate with the government on the issue of independence. The
groupīs terrorist activities include bombings, assassinations,
kidnappings, and extortion. Extreme cruelty appears to be its
hallmark. Last year, a Basilan priest was found tortured to death,
trussed up with his fingernails plucked out, and with a gunshot wound
to the head. |
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Mediation
On Monday, it seemed a peaceful solution was in sight after the government
gave in to the kidnappers' demand to appoint two Malaysian mediators. Last
year, Malaysian officials helped mediate the release of dozens of foreigners
and locals including several Malaysians abducted by the rebels. Huge ransoms
were reportedly paid. The rebels are now saying they will not participate in
further negotiations.
The latest Abu Sayyaf kidnapping crisis comes soon after a
bloody election campaign in which more than 70 people were killed. It again
highlights the violence and lawlessness that has plagued southern parts of the
country despite the deployment of the Philippines marines and special army and
police anti-terrorist forces.
Philippine kidnappers: U.S. hostage 'executed'
June 12, 2001 Posted: 3:26 AM EDT (0726 GMT)
MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- Kidnappers in the southern Philippines say
they have killed an American hostage held by them for more than two weeks.
The claim, which has not been confirmed, was made by the leader of the Abu
Sayyaf group in a call to a local radio station Tuesday morning local time.
Abu Sabaya told the Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) the kidnappers had killed
the American, Guillermo Sobero, one of three U.S. nationals from a group of
people kidnapped May 27 from a beach resort close to the island of Palawan.
"We have executed Guillermo Sobero as a gift to the country on independence
day," he said.
"They better hurry the rescue, otherwise there will be no hostages left."
Sabaya said the beheading happened near the town of Tuburan on the southern
island of Basilan.
In comments addressed to the Philippine military he said: "Find his body."
"Remember that we have had told them so many times that we were going to behead
an American," he said
He added that the group had also cut off negotiations with the Philippines
government for the release of the remaining hostages.
Execution threat
Sabaya had threatened to execute one of the Americans last Thursday and
reiterated the threat to do so at noon Monday unless the Philippine government
agreed to the group's demands to appoint two Malaysians -- a senator and a
merchant -- to negotiate for the hostages' release.
Minutes after that deadline, presidential press secretary Rigoberto Tiglao
announced the Philippine government would raise no objection to Malaysian
Senator Sairin Karno negotiating for the release, providing the Malaysian
government permitted Karno to do so.
He said Karno would work with a designated government intermediary, William
Castillo.
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had previously rejected the use
of any non-Filipino negotiator in what she said was an internal Philippine
problem.
She has ordered thousands of troops to hunt down the 100-member kidnap gang
and rescue their hostages.
Following Tiglao's announcement, Sabaya told RMN that he accepted the
government's offer, provided it was sincere, and said the threat to behead the
hostages had been called off.
More hostages seized
However, as this was going on gunmen belonging to the group seized 15 more
people -- including two 12-year-old children.
The hostages were taken in Lantawan, near the capital of Basilan island, the
rebel stronghold.
Their capture brought to 28 the number of people believed held by Abu Sayyaf.
The two Malaysians negotiators demanded by the gunmen helped negotiate a
drawn out hostage crisis last year when the Abu Sayyaf seized more than 40
people from the Malaysian tourist resort of Sipadan.
The hostages were reportedly freed in return for a large ransom payment.
Government officials have said they will not negotiate for ransom, but only
for the unconditional release of the hostages.
It is offering a $2 million reward for information leading to the kidnappers'
capture.
Sabaya also said in an earlier radio broadcast Monday his group has ordered
the rebels to sow terror on Basilan.
He said the Abu Sayyaf was demanding the military stop its operation on
Basilan where thousands of troops have been searching for the hostages in the
jungle-covered mountains.
The Abu Sayyaf is one of two groups fighting for a Muslim homeland in the
south of the mainly Catholic country but appears to pursue kidnap as its main
business.
The government says its members are mere bandits.
Muslims are a minority in the mostly Roman Catholic Philippines but are a
majority in the southern islands that the Abu Sayyaf uses as a base.
The
Associated Press
& Reuters
contributed to this report.
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