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| Southeast Asia |
| Ten Abu Sayyaf beat it for Sabah... |
| 2002-12-07 |
| At least 10 members of the Abu Sayyaf Muslim kidnap group have fled the southern Philippines for the Malaysian state of Sabah by speedboat, according to an intelligence report on Saturday. The 10 sneaked out of Patikul town in the island of Jolo in recent days, fleeing a military offensive on the island, a stronghold of the gang. The group headed for Sabah includes those who took part in the kidnapping of Filipino, Malaysian and Western hostages from dive resorts in Sabah two years ago, it said. Most of the captives were later freed, allegedly after ransom was paid. Abu Sayyaf has always leaned much more toward the "crook" side than toward the "insurgent" side. A hundred years ago, they'd have been referred to as "pirates." Malaysian authorities, who have been told of the development, have reportedly stepped up patrols in the maritime border with the Philippines. Hopefully, they'll intercept them and just blow 'em out of the water... Meanwhile, Abu Baidar, an alleged member of the group, was captured on Friday in a remote village on Basilan island after residents tipped off the military to his presence, Basilan army commander Colonel Bonifacio Ramos said. He said that Baidar is suspected of taking part in the raid on the Dos Palmas resort in May 2001 when the Abu Sayyaf seized 17 Filipinos and three Americans. Looks like they might finally be getting down to the dregs on the whole Abu Sayyaf problem. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |