Abu Sayyaf is seeking a $2 million ransom for the release of American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham. On Monday, soldiers recovered the headless body of farmer Rolly Jul in Maluso town on Basilan, allegedly killed by Abu Sayyaf guerrillas who suspected he was a military spy. 950 Abu Sayyaf members have surrendered or were killed in clashes with the military in the last two years, and at least 142 soldiers have died. The guerrillas have seized 140 hostages over that period, including foreign tourists and Malaysian resort workers.
There's a fine line between terrorism and banditti. Sometimes there's no line at all. |