Page 32 - Encyclopedia Of Terrorism

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Abu Sayyaf professes a desire for an independent kidnapping was similarly resolved through military
Muslim state for the Philippines’ Muslim population, action.
to be governed under shari’a law. In practice, how- Following the terrorist attacks on the United States
ever, the group’s attacks and particularly its kidnap- on September 11, 2001, and taking into consideration
pings seem to have been motivated more by potential Abu Sayyaf’s connections to the Al Qaeda terrorist
profit than by ideological or military significance; network, in January 2002 the U.S. government
the Philippine government has long considered them acceded to the request of Philippine president Gloria
to be mere bandits. In the mid-1990s, Abu Sayyaf’s Arroyo and pledged $100 million in military aid for
strength was estimated at 500 members. Ransom the elimination of Abu Sayyaf. The United States sent
money received from kidnappings has since increased 660 U.S. Army Special Forces troops to act as military
that number, with some commentators believing the advisors, training the Philippine Army in counter-
group to have as many as 4,000 members. Its strong- terrorism tactics. The aid package caused considerable
hold is Basilan Island, though it operates on other controversy in the Philippines but seems to have the
Muslim-populated islands as well. support of the public, especially as President Arroyo
Starting in the late 1990s, Abu Sayyaf increased its pledged that the Special Forces troops will remain only
numbers of kidnappings in Basilan and elsewhere. At for a short time. The success of the operation was
first it targeted wealthy Filipino businessmen, usually thrown into question, however, when some surviving
releasing the captives after ransom had been paid, but members kidnapped six Jehovah’s witnesses on the
sometimes killing them regardless. In March 2000, island of Jolo and killed at least two of the victims.
the group gained international attention after raiding
See also ALEX BONCAYAO BRIGADE; NEW PEOPLE’S ARMY
a local school, taking 27 hostages, most of them
children. On April 23, the Army launched a danger- Further Reading
ous raid against the Abu Sayyaf compound housing
the hostages. Four terrorists were killed; 15 hostages Aglinoby, John. “Basilan Is Home to Separatist Violence
were freed—10 of them seriously wounded. Most and Kidnappings.” The Guardian, January 12, 2001.
Aglionsouth, John. “Forgotten Hostages of Island Hell:
of the terrorists escaped into the jungle, taking
Philippine Terror Group Is Growing Rich as $1m
5 hostages with them.
Ransoms Begin to Be Paid to Free Its Prisoners.” The
Later that day, a different faction of Abu Sayyaf
Observer, August 13, 2000, 20.
struck again, this time abducting victims from a
Crisp, Penny, and Raissa Robles. “A Past Traced in Terror.”
resort on the nearby island of Sipidan, which is part The Observer, May 5, 2000, 22.
of Malaysia. The second group took 23 hostages, “A Hostage Crisis Confronts Estrada.” The Economist, May
19 of them Malaysian and Filipino hotel staff but 6, 2001.
also several foreign tourists. Some of the journalists “Philippine Forces Hit Rebel Stronghold.” New York Times,
covering the kidnappings were also abducted; the April 24, 2000, 24.
hostages eventually included French, German, Finnish, “Tourists Are Seized in Malaysia; Tie to Philippine Clash
Lebanese, U.S., and South African nationals. The Claimed.” New York Times, April 25, 2000, 14.
international spotlight was now focused on the Weymouth, Lally. “Terrorist Cells All Over.” Newsweek,
February 11, 2002, 36.
Philippine government, which felt compelled to act.
Concerned for the safety of their citizens, the French,
German, and South African governments prevailed
upon the Filipinos to negotiate with the second group ACHILLE LAURO HIJACKING
of hostage takers rather than launch another risky
raid. A Libyan diplomat offered to act as a go-between
and negotiations began. After months of negotiations, On October 7, 1985, four Palestinian militants
a ransom of undisclosed amount was paid to Abu seized the Italian cruise liner Achille Lauro off Port
Sayyaf and a dozen of the hostages were released. Said, Egypt. The hijackers, under the command of
The kidnappers refused to part with the remainder, Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) leader Abu Abbas,
and President Estrada launched a massive military held the more than 400 people aboard hostage for two
strike against the group in September 2000. The risky days. The hijackers shot New Yorker Leon Klinghoffer,
move secured their release. In May 2001, another an elderly, wheelchair-bound, Jewish passenger, and