Two hostages held by Abu Sayyaf guerrillas for more than a year were killed during a military rescue attempt in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Norte.
June 6, 2006 (Press Release) --
Two hostages held by Abu Sayyaf guerrillas for more than a year were killed during a military rescue attempt in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Norte. An American missionary and a Filipina nurse were killed and the third hostage, the missionary's wife, was injured during a shootout between the Philippine troops and the rebels. The Philippine army has been fighting the Muslim separatist rebels with support and training from the United States. The rebel group is reportedly connected to Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network, although various Muslim guerrilla groups have been fighting for independence in the area for nearly 30 years.
Abu Sayyaf claimed responsibility for a series of bombings in April 2002 that killed 15 people and wounded 54 in the city of General Santos on Mindanao island. Mindanao has a majority Muslim population, but the city of General Santos is mostly Christian. Several Abu Sayyaf leaders were arrested and some other members killed in clashes following the attacks.
In addition to the bombings, the guerrillas are infamous for kidnapping foreign tourists. The hostages killed in June 2002 were part of a group of 20 tourists abducted from a luxury resort in May 2001. Most were released for large ransoms; others were killed. The US, UK, Australia and Canada have issued travel advisories warning their citizens to avoid travelling to most of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Travellers are also advised to take precautions against kidnapping and to take heed of any bomb threats.
Although the danger lies mostly in the south, travellers should also be cautious in Manila and other major centres. A number of unexploded bombs were found in Manila in March 2002. Keep an eye on developments, and seek local advice on travel to any parts of Mindanao.
If you're a journalist keep your head down while in the Philippines. According to the Paris-based World Association of Newspapers, five media workers were killed there in the first half of 2001.
The other major issue to be aware of is boat safety. The Philippines archipelago is serviced by a flotilla of ferries, some of them little more than rickety tubs that are often overcrowded and underserviced. There are 100 ferry accidents a year in the Philippines, many of them involving high numbers of fatalities. Legislators have begun to call for the death penalty for negligent operators whose boats sink, but this is unlikely to improve the seaworthiness of many vessels. If you feel uncomfortable boarding a ferry that looks shonky, leaky or overcrowded, look for an alternative boat or catch a plane.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
Abu Sayyaf claimed responsibility for a series of bombings in April 2002 that killed 15 people and wounded 54 in the city of General Santos on Mindanao island. Mindanao has a majority Muslim population, but the city of General Santos is mostly Christian. Several Abu Sayyaf leaders were arrested and some other members killed in clashes following the attacks.
In addition to the bombings, the guerrillas are infamous for kidnapping foreign tourists. The hostages killed in June 2002 were part of a group of 20 tourists abducted from a luxury resort in May 2001. Most were released for large ransoms; others were killed. The US, UK, Australia and Canada have issued travel advisories warning their citizens to avoid travelling to most of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Travellers are also advised to take precautions against kidnapping and to take heed of any bomb threats.
Although the danger lies mostly in the south, travellers should also be cautious in Manila and other major centres. A number of unexploded bombs were found in Manila in March 2002. Keep an eye on developments, and seek local advice on travel to any parts of Mindanao.
If you're a journalist keep your head down while in the Philippines. According to the Paris-based World Association of Newspapers, five media workers were killed there in the first half of 2001.
The other major issue to be aware of is boat safety. The Philippines archipelago is serviced by a flotilla of ferries, some of them little more than rickety tubs that are often overcrowded and underserviced. There are 100 ferry accidents a year in the Philippines, many of them involving high numbers of fatalities. Legislators have begun to call for the death penalty for negligent operators whose boats sink, but this is unlikely to improve the seaworthiness of many vessels. If you feel uncomfortable boarding a ferry that looks shonky, leaky or overcrowded, look for an alternative boat or catch a plane.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
Email
Print
SPAM
LEAVE A COMMENT
