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By Olivier Baube
JOLO, May 16 (AFP) -The Abu Sayyaf group holding 21 hostages on this southern Philippine island are demanding international recognition and mediation for their demand for a separate Islamic state. A manifesto of the group defended the taking of hostages as part of their struggle for an Islamic state in the southern islands of the Catholic-majority Philippines. "Kidnapping of key personalities is just one of our war strategies," the document said. "It's a minor thing compared to economic embargo and state oppression. "It is used as a tool to weaken the enemy in order to end the war through a peace treaty," it added. In the document, Abu Sayyaf demanded international recognition and mediation for their struggle. "The leadership of [Abu Sayyaf] is hereby calling the United Nations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, including the Philippines republic, to recognize the right of the Bangsamoro people to self determination and an independent Islamic state," the tract said. The document was obtained by an Agence France-Presse reporter who returned to Jolo on Tuesday after a visit to the Abu Sayyaf hideout where the hostages are being held. One of the leaders of the group, known as Commander Global, said Abu Sayyaf would release the hostages seized from a Malaysian resort on April 23 once international recognition and mediation is forthcoming. Commander Global and other leaders of the group insisted that they were not seeking a ransom for the captives and that the hostage taking was done purely for political motives. They also said that while their group is generally known as Abu Sayyaf, or Bearer of the Sword, the real name of the organization is Al-Harkat Islamiya, or Islamic Movement. Abu Sayyaf is holding nine Malaysians, a German family of three, a French couple, two Finns, a South African couple, two Filipinos and a Lebanese woman. |
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