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Philippines: Kidnapped Sri Lankan released by militants
[ADN Kronos] A Sri Lankan peace activist kidnapped by Islamic militants in the southern Philippines almost four months ago has been released, police said. Umar Jaleel was rescued late Wednesday from members of the Abu Sayyaf in the town of Tipo-Tipo on Basilan island, regional police spokesman Superintendent Danilo Bacas said.The move is certain to raise hopes for the imminent release of Italian aid worker, Eugenio Vagni, who was kidnapped by the same group in January. No other details were released about Janeel's release. His group, the Brussels-based Nonviolent Peaceforce, said he was freed after negotiations conducted by local contacts in Basilan. Jaleel was seized by teenaged gunmen on 13 February. Police had initially said he was kidnapped by an unknown gang but subsequently pointed to Abu Sayyaf, which has been blamed for the country's worst militant attacks. Jaleel, a Sri Lankan Muslim, is among 17 international workers from his organisation working in the troubled southern Philippine region where they were seeking to improve relations between Christians and Muslims. A month before Jaleel was taken, the Abu Sayyaf kidnapped three Red Cross workers, including Vagni. Vagni's two colleagues, Swiss national Andreas Notter and Filippina Mary Jean Lacaba have since been released. Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Red Cross in Manila, said on Wednesday that Vagni had telephoned his wife a day or two ago. Posted by: 2009-06-05 |
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