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Philippine Muslim extremists demand release of Arab terrorists |
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April 15, 2000
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, APR 14 (AP) - Muslim extremist rebels are demanding the release of Arab terrorists jailed in the United States before they will free 29 hostages in the southern Philippines, a rebel spokesman said Friday.
The demand by the Abu Sayyaf group was contained in a letter addressed to President Joseph Estrada presented by the rebels to movie actor Robin Padilla, who has been negotiating for the release of the hostages being held in Basilan province.
Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Ahmad told radio station DXRZ that the group is demanding the release of Arab terrorists from U.S. jails, including Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind of the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York, and Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, who is in jail for conspiring to blow up New York sites.
Yousef hid in Manila before fleeing to Pakistan where he was arrested in 1995. Philippine police say the Abu Sayyaf had links with Yousef, who allegedly planned to assassinate Pope John Paul II during the pontiff's visit to Manila in early 1995.
"We don't care what you call them, whether international terrorists or not. They are our Muslim brothers," Ahmad said.
"We will not beg the government to grant our demands. If they want war tomorrow, we are ready," he said.
The group also demanded the release of two comrades jailed in Isabela, capital of Basilan, about 880 kilometers south of Manila.
In addition, it said the education department must order women Muslim teachers and students to wear the traditional Muslim costume that completely covers the body, and that foreign fishing vessels be banned from seas around Basilan.
It also demanded a talk with the ambassador of Italy, which Ahmad said is responsible for the spread of Catholicism in the Philippines.
On Friday, the Abu Sayyaf released two girls who were among 31 captives held by the rebels since March 20.
The two released children - Lani Cachuela, 11, and Nova Peralto, 9 - had fallen ill with flu. They cried when they were reunited with their parents and other relatives in Isabela, the capital of Basilan.
The rebels had threatened to behead all their male captives if the government did not allow Padilla to participate in the negotiations.
The rebels originally seized more than 50 people from two schools in Basilan province after attacking an army outpost March 20. They were still holding 31, mostly school children and a Catholic priest, when Padilla arrived at their camp on Wednesday.
Padilla, who portrays tough guys in Philippine movies, converted to Islam while serving a prison term for illegal gun possession.
Politicians have criticized his participation in the negotiations, saying the government should not have given an inexperienced movie actor such a delicate task.
Estrada's national security adviser, Alexander Aguirre, said the government wants to use all peaceful means to resolve the hostage crisis and Padilla's role is limited to that of a mediator in the negotiations.
Aguirre said he has not yet been informed by Padilla of the rebels' demands.
"Let us see. So long as they are reasonable, maybe we will give in," Aguirre said in a radio interview. "But everything in this world has its limits."
The Abu Sayyaf is the smaller but more radical of two Muslim rebel groups fighting for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines. ] It has been blamed for numerous attacks against Christians, including the abduction of foreign missionaries.
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