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| Southeast Asia |
| Arroyo asks Asean to help nab Abu Sayyaf |
| 2002-06-08 |
| Philippine President Gloria Arroyo appealed to her South-east Asian neighbours to arrest Abu Sayyaf leaders if they fled to their shores following a stepped up military campaign against the kidnap-for-ransom group. Like Nur Misuari did. If the P.I. government follows through, they should be able to wipe them out. If they hesitate, they'll just grab some more foreigners and start all over again... The Philippine military has intelligence information that 'they are looking for a way to escape,' Ms Arroyo told reporters after meeting the widow of an American hostage who was shot dead by Abu Sayyaf gunmen during a military rescue attempt. 'I am concerned that the Abu Sayyaf leaders might try to flee the country,' Ms Arroyo said, adding that she had asked the foreign department 'to seek the assistance of our Asean neighbours, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia.' Doubt she'll have much luck if they head for Indonesia. Maybe they'll do something about them when they start chopping people's heads off there, but probably not... Ms Arroyo said her government would also seek the help of Interpol, the US Department of Justice and international law agencies to help in efforts to crush the Abu Sayyaf group. Four Abu Sayyaf members were killed during the botched rescue attempt on Friday. However, none of them were top leaders, sparking concerns among the military that they could regroup and launch another kidnapping. Like I always say, it's seldom the Mr Bigs who stop the bullets. That's what cannon fodder's for. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |