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Sunday, April 24, 2005
Islamic group dismisses escape reports
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
INTELLIGENCE reports revealed that terrorists Kahdaffy Janjalani and Abu Solaiman recently escaped the military because of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) blockade and threats to pull its panel from the ongoing Kuala Lumpur peace negotiations.
But in an interview with Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Sunday, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu debunked such reports saying it is again another smear campaign against them.
He even labeled such reports are "inventions" and a futile attempt to put a snag at ongoing peace talks at Kuala Lumpur.
"No basis on the allegation the GRP-MILF panels have been working closely with one another," he said.
Meanwhile, intelligence reports said military troops were in hot pursuit of Janjalani, the perceived head of the Abu Sayyaff guerillas, and Abu Solaiman, the self confessed brain of the terrorists who staged the simultaneous bombing of the cities of Makati, Davao and General Santos.
This as last Friday, acting on tips provided by Muslim civilians and military intelligence about the presence of the duo in Maguindanao, the Armed Forces of the Philippines dispatched paratroopers to the area.
"Unfortunately, the troops were landed in location that allowed the fugitives to escape and seek shelter in the adjacent MILF territories," the report e-mailed to this paper reads.
The source said MILF armed elements blocked the pursuing troops making good the escape of Janjalani and Solaiman.
"The incident brings back the question on the sincerity of the MILF when it made an unequivocal declaration that is against terrorism and that they are not harboring terrorist suspects," their report reads.
It added how such incident gives credence to the unpopular statement of US Charge de Affairs in the Philippines, Joseph Mussomeli, who said that Mindanao could be the next Afghanistan.
"Our troops could have intruded into the MILF-held territory except that the MILF served warning that if they insist on pursuing the top leaders of the terror group, the MILF will pull out its panel who are already in Kuala Lumpur for the resumption of the peace talks," the report reads.
It added that it was "understandable" that military authorities had decided it will not give the separatists anymore reasons to suspend the talks anew, and thus, withdrew the troops and allowed Janjalani and Solaiman to go scot-free.
(April 24, 2005 issue)
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