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| Southeast Asia |
| Abu Sayyaf kidnaps Avon ladies... |
| 2002-08-21 |
| Abu Sayyaf guerrillas staged their first kidnappings since U.S. troops arrived to back a crackdown on the group, abducting at least six people who were selling Avon cosmetics door to door in a remote village. Ofergawdsake! What's next? The ice cream man? Philippine troops responded by shelling suspected hideouts of the gang. Why didn't they shell 'em before they kidnapped anybody? Jolo police chief Col. Ahiron Ajirim said two men with pistols stopped a vehicle carrying the cosmetics sellers and forced them out Tuesday afternoon. He said the driver was left behind in the rural area of Jolo island, about 600 miles south of Manila. Ajirim said the driver later identified one kidnapper as Muin Maulod Sahiron, a nephew of local Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron. Just can't seem to give up the ol' family business, I guess... Officials initially reported that eight salespeople had been kidnapped, but two of them — the only Muslims and local residents in the group — showed up at their homes Wednesday, saying they had not been held. Police said they were investigating. Ajirim said six of the victims were from Zamboanga, the biggest city in the region, but were staying at a local inn and selling Avon products on Jolo island. Two women in their 40s and a 21-year-old man registered at the inn with the same last name and are likely related. A police report said the six were all Jehovah's Witnesses but said police found no evidence they were trying to evangelize in the predominantly Muslim area. The other two, Nidzmalin Sulayman and her husband Boyet, were acting as guides. I hope they're evangelizing the hell out of them now, though. Six or seven issues of The Watchtower, a few liesurely hours of heart-to-heart chatting, and Muin will be buying a suit... Thanks to my anonymous tipster for this one. He/she sez al-Mary Kay is suspected... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |