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| Southeast Asia |
| Reds ransack police arsenal; drag hostage away |
| 2005-06-27 |
| COMMUNIST insurgents raided a police station in southern Philippines and seized at least 30 weapons before escaping on a convoy of vehicles, authorities said. The raid, officials said, occurred late Sunday in Magpet town in North Cotabato after several armed members of the New People's Army (NPA) who disguised themseles as lawmen went to the police station purportedly to surrender a man, who was in handcuffs. Inside the police station, the raiders drew their guns and herded the policemen who were all apparently caught unaware, and then ransacked their arsenal and fled, officials said. "Security forces are pursuing the raiders. It was the first time the NPA raided my province," North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Pinol said by phone from Magpet town. Radio reports said Monday the gunmen also seized a village leader Silverio Virar, whose his fate remains unknown. The NPA, armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF), is fighting the goernment the past three decades to install a Maoist state in the country. Rebel leaders suspended peace talks in 2002 with the Filipino government after the United States listed the CPP-NDF and the NPA as foreign terrorist organizations on the recommendation of the Philippine government. The rebels were demanding that the government ask Washington to lift the terror tag. Aside from the United States, the European Union also blacklisted the three groups. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #1 several armed members of the New People's Army (NPA) who disguised themseles as lawmen went to the police station purportedly to surrender a man, who was in handcuffs. Ah, the ol' Chewbacca Offense. Prisoner transfer to Cellblock 1138. |
| Posted by: BH 2005-06-27 14:56 |