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| Southeast Asia |
| Abu Sayyaf threatens to behead three more captives |
| 2016-05-06 |
| [IANS] Abu Sayyaf released a video on Wednesday threatening to behead three more hostages, who were kidnapped along with John Ridsdel, who was killed on April 25. On the video, the masked militant said in English, "The lesson is clear. John Ridsdel has been beheaded. Now there are three remaining captives here. If you procrastinate once again on the negotiations, we will behead this all anytime." Meanwhile, the three hostages, who were abducted by the rebels along with Ridsdel on September 21, 2015, also made pleas to Canada and Philippines. Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad said, "I'm appealing to the Canadian government, the Filipino government, friends, family, anybody who can possibly help us, that if the demand is not met we will be executed like our friend John was a few days ago." In the video, Canadian Robert Hall also urged Philippine security forces, which launched an offensive against Abu Sayyaf after Ridsdel's killing, to stop shooting for fear they might be killed in the attacks. He said, "To the Canadian government, I’m told to tell you to meet the demand. I don’t know what you’re doing, but you’re not doing anything for us. John has been sacrificed, his family has been decimated, and I’m not sure why or what you’re waiting for." Speaking for the first time, the Filipina, Marita Flores asks Philippine President Aquino and several other presidential candidates and renowned personalities, including the boxer Manny Pacquiao, to help them. Abu Sayyaf had demanded ransom of around $6.4 million for each of the three Western hostages before April 25 and a few hours after the expiration of the deadline, the group beheaded Ridsdel and left his severed head in a bag in Jolo town in Sulu province. |
| Posted by:ryuge |