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Sunday, December 19, 2004
6 Muslim leaders deny links with Jemaah Islamiyah
By Aurea A. Gerundio
DAVAO -- Six Muslim leaders in Davao City on Saturday refuted intelligence reports that they have links with the international Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terror group.
The Muslim leaders namely, Abdulrahman Yonos, Ali Yatas, Kamar Lupon, Abdulkarim Umbra, Yasser Ali Adona and Ahleem Omar, accompanied by their lawyer Cesar M. Dataya appeared before Task Force Davao (TFD) to clear their names.
Dataya, who is also a Muslim, attested the claims of the six Muslim leaders.
"I know these leaders. In fact, Yonos is an Ustadz in the City Government's Madrasah," said Dataya adding that he is not using his position as assistant coordinator of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) in defending the Muslim leaders.
Dataya appreciated the gesture of the TFD in inviting over the Muslim leaders, who were suspected to have JI links.
He, however, criticized TFD Deputy Chief Lieutenant Colonel Yusof A. Jimlani for saying that TFD cannot assure that the suspected JI allies will be spared from future invitations if something untoward happens in the city.
Dataya said it is beyond the power of these suspected JI allies to maintain peace and order in this city.
Colonel Eduardo del Rosario, TFD chief, for his part, clarified that they are not putting the burden on the Muslims.
Del Rosario also urged the Muslims to help the military by reporting immediately and sightings of suspected terrorists in their community.
"Muslims or not, we are responsible to keep our city safe from terrorist activities," del Rosario said.
Meanwhile, the Treasury Department in Washington on Friday blocked assets found in the United States belonging to Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffy Janjalani.
In August 2000, members of Abu Sayyaf kidnapped American Jeffrey Schilling and held the Muslim convert hostage in Jolo. Schilling eventually escaped.
The Treasury Department said Janjalani participated in the hostage taking.
In May 2001, the group, led by Janjalani went on a kidnapping spree and took three Americans, one of whom was beheaded later, the Treasury Department said.
Another was killed during a Philippine military operation that led to the rescue of the third. A number of Filipinos also were taken in the raid.
"Janjalani is a despicable terrorist, responsible for the kidnappings and beheadings of American civilians and other innocents. We must do everything in our power to cut off individuals like him from their support lines," said Stuart Levey, Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. (With AP)
(December 19, 2004 issue)
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