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U.S. Warns Abu Sayyaf Threatening to Kill Americans
JAKARTA, Oct 16 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The United States on Monday warned the Filipino Abu Sayyaf group, which it has designated a terrorist organization, that it would be held responsible for the safety of two American hostages it is currently holding.
The group said on Monday they would execute the two American hostages and that Philippine President Gloria Arroyo would be "bringing the cadavers" of U.S. missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham when she travels to Washington next month.
The Abu Sayyaf, now under heavy attack in southern Basilan by the Philippine military, killed another American, Guillermo Sobero, in June.
They have threatened to kill the remaining Americans, who were kidnapped in May, if the military offensive is not halted.
"We strongly condemn the threats to murder innocent people who are being held against their will," U.S. State Department spokesman, Philip Reeker, said.
"We will hold the Abu Sayyaf group responsible for the safety and well-being of all the hostages."
The group forced Martin Burnham to go on local radio on Monday in a bid to urge Arroyo to pull back army troops and barter for the captive's freedom.
Arroyo rejected the offer, reiterating that she will order the immediate execution of jailed Abu's [as the Abu Sayyaf is commonly called], if any harm come to the remaining hostages.
"There is a possibility that they can execute us if things do not go according to their desire," Burnham told Radio Mindanao Network.
Arroyo is to fly to Washington on November 18th for talks with U.S. President George W. Bush, which will likely to focus on the U.S.-led campaign against international terrorism.
She has agreed to a U.S. request to freeze Abu Sayyaf assets, mostly raised from ransoming off dozens of Western tourists and journalists abducted last year.
In an executive order, Bush last month froze the assets of the Abu Sayyaf, along with 27 other individuals and groups allegedly involved in terrorism. The seizure order does not affect the Abu's, as they do not have any known accounts or assets in the U.S. or Philippines.
Some 5,000 Philippine soldiers are deployed in Basilan province in the country's southern Mindanao region, they are trying to "eliminate" the Abu Sayyaf.
"We will execute Martin and Gracia if they [the military] do not stop [these] rescue operations," Abu Sayyaf spokesman, Abu Sabaya, told a local radio in Zamboanga City from his base in Basilan.
Clashes in the area between the Abu Sayyaf and government troops have left at least 30 Abu's dead and scores wounded over the last week.
"Now, if President Arroyo wants to have a successful visit to the U.S., she should first stop military rescue operation[s] because if [these] will continue, she would be bringing with her the cadavers of Martin and Gracia [to Washington], and this would be very embarrassing," Sabaya said.
"The response of the President is as follows - the reason the [soldiers are] there in Basilan is because the Abu Sayyaf terrorists have the hostages. So, for as long as the terrorists have [them], the military will be there, and the military offensive will continue," Arroyo's national security adviser, Roilo Golez, warned.
The skeletal remains of a third American, Guillermo Sobero, were recovered last week, more than three months after the Abu Sayyaf said they beheaded him as an "Independence Day" [June 12th] gift to Arroyo.
"The message from the Abu Sayyaf is that Americans everywhere are in danger. We have been targeted because we are Americans," Burnham said, his voice quivering.
With additional reporting by Kazi Mahmood
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