Article

2004-04-17 Southeast Asia

Former mining exec sez he paid off Abu Sayyaf

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Posted by Dan Darling 2004-04-17 12:07:50 AM|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Laird was told that federal prosecutors in Denver had no interest in pursuing the case because they believed the statute of limitations had expired.

Sigh.

Posted by B 2004-04-17 9:03:09 AM|| 2004-04-17 9:03:09 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Laird was told that federal prosecutors in Denver had no interest in pursuing the case because they believed the statute of limitations had expired.

Ummm ... I don't recall there being a "statute of limitations" on murder.

The Abu Sayyaf, said by the U.S. government to be the smallest and most radical of Islamic separatist groups in the Philippines, claimed earlier today to have beheaded Guillermo Sobero, one of three Americans it has been holding since last month.

... The Abu Sayyaf, which split off from another group in 1991 and operates generally in the southern Philippines, has kidnapped more than 30 foreigners in its history. But it has never before killed a foreign hostage despite many threats to do so, though it has engaged in bombings and assassinations.

The claim by the group that it beheaded Sobero, a 40-year-old California native, has attracted widespread condemnation in the international community.

Sobero, from Corona, Calif., along with Martin and Gracia Burnham, two missionaries from Wichita, Kan., and 17 others were taken from a posh resort on the Sulu Sea on May 27.

Guillermo Sobero's family and Gracia Burnham might have a rather different take on this matter. However much multinational corporations might regard bribery as a necessary nuisance while conducting business overseas, I don't recall providing weapons, safe houses or medical treatment to wounded terrorists falling under that heading.

Echo executives who were at the helm during this
escapade should be arraigned on accessory to homicide charges. Murder is a fairly predictable outcome of indiscriminately handing out weapons to violent terrorists, especially when sheltering their operations and leadership at the same time. Stroking the hand of mammon with blood soaked money strikes me as a poor way of doing business.

Should these allegations prove true, we owe the Philippine government a massive apology. They have been one of our few steadfast Asian allies in the war on terror. Such corporate undermining of legitimate efforts to suppress terrorism are egrigious violations of international law. America needs to send a strong and unambiguous message that this sort of activity will result in vigorous prosecution and little else.

Posted by Zenster 2004-04-17 8:02:38 PM|| 2004-04-17 8:02:38 PM|| Front Page Top

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