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| Southeast Asia |
| Alleged Kidnapper of Indonesian Sailors Slain |
| 2003-02-05 |
| Soldiers in the southern Philippines have shot dead a Muslim gunman suspected of involvement in last year’s abduction of three Indonesian seamen. Sarawi Mohamad Jamal, whose gang of bandits kidnapped the Indonesians at sea in June 2002, was shot dead in a gunbattle on Monday (3/2/03) in Patikul town on Jolo island. There was no word on the fate of the three Indonesians – Muntu Jacobus Winowatan, Pieter Lerrich and Zulkifli – who are now reportedly being held by a band of Muslim insurgents led by Radulan Sahiron. On June 17, a crew of 10 Indonesians was taking a barge full of coal from Indonesia to Cebu island in the central Philippines, when Jamal’s armed gang attacked, kidnapping the captain and three officers. One of the Indonesians escaped a few days later. Jamal handed the three remaining prisoners over to Sahiron, who is part of the Abu Sayyaf rebel group. According to AFP, Abu Sayyaf has halved its ransom demand for the hostages to 4 million pesos ($74,760 dollars) because Sahiron's group is short of funds. Of course, at that price they don't actually give the hostages back... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |