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| Southeast Asia |
| Duterte: No amnesty for Abu Sayyaf |
| 2016-09-27 |
| [RAPPLER] Under his watch, members of the Abu Sayyaf ...also known as al-Harakat al-Islamiyya, an Islamist terror group based in Jolo, Basilan and Zamboanga. Since its inception in the early 1990s, the group has carried out bombings, kidnappings, murders, head choppings, and extortion in their uniquely Islamic attempt to set up an independent Moslem province in the Philippines. Abu Sayyaf forces probably number less than 300 cadres. The group is closely allied with remnants of Indonesia's Jemaah Islamiya and has loose ties with MILF and MNLF who sometimes provide cannon fodder... Group (ASG) will never be granted amnesty, said President Rodrigo Duterte. "The Abu Sayyaf were decapitating people like they would just fowls and pigs and goats. And there will be no talks. The Armed Forces is right, rejecting amnesty for them. I will not, I will never. There will never be an amnesty for so much killing," said Duterte on Monday, September 26. He was speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of Malacañang Press Corps officers at the Palace. Apparently, the suggestion to include the Abu Sayyaf in peace talks, with the possibility of the granting of amnesty, was suggested by Moro National Liberation Front (MILF) leader Nur Misuari. Misuari had facilitated the release of Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad from the ASG. According to an exclusive Rappler report, Misuari may have even earned from Sekkingstad's release. "Then Nur, problem is Nur, parang hinihigop niya iyong ‐ isali na niya iyong Abu Sayyaf (it's like he wants to include the Abu Sayyaf), which I would like to tell the nation now: No. I will not talk peace with the Abu Sayyaf," said Duterte. He is averse to the idea because including the bandit group in talks would be "like slapping the nation," said Duterte. |
| Posted by:Fred |