Philippine authorities blame Abu Sayyaf for teacher's death
Updated
Just days before US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton arrives in Manila to discuss security issues, the protracted Muslim separatist conflict in the southern Philippines has claimed a fresh casualty.
Authorities say they've found the severed head of a school principal understood to have been abducted by members of the militant group, the Abu Sayyaf, on Jolo island. Officials have also named five more Muslim members of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front as suspects, in the kidnapping of an Irish priest.
Presenter: Joanna McCarthy
Speakers: Professor Abhoud Syed Lingga, executive director, Institute of Bangsamoro Studies, Cotabato City, Philippines; Mars Buan, senior analyst, Pacific Strategies and Assessment, Philippines
MCCARTHY: The Philippines troubled south is back in the spotlight thanks to two high profile kidnappings. But the aspirations and tactics of the two groups who have been blamed are quite different, says Mars Buan, a senior analyst for Philippine security firm, Pacific Strategies and Assessment.
BUAN: The Abu Sayyaf group is regarded as a terrorist organisation, not just by the Philippines, but also the United States of America as well as the European Union and the United Nations. With regards to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, it's a little more complicated because the MILF is in peace talks with the Philippines government, so it is not designated as a terrorist organisation, it is considered a legitimate insurgency group.
MCCARTHY: Authorities say the Abu Sayyaf demanded a 40-thousand dollar ransom for the return of 36-year old elementary teacher, Gabriel Canizares. They say when relatives refused to pay the sum, the militants dumped his severed head at a petrol station in Jolo. The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for many of the worst terrorist attacks in the country, and Mars Buan says beheadings are a common tactic.
BUAN: Beheading a captive serves various purposes, especially for a terrorist group like the Abu Sayyaf. First there's the shock factor, so it sort of legitimises itself as a terrorist group, a force to reckon with and definitely a security threat that the Philippines government should take note of. Second, it has the potential to advertise itself in the form of getting financiers from other extremists abroad, and then of course in retaliation for failing to pay the two-million ransom demand.
MCCARTHY: Meanwhile authorities have named five more leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as suspects in the kidnapping of an Irish priest. 79 year old Father Michael Sinnott was abducted by five armed men in the southern city of Pagadian. He's since appeared in a video seeking a two-million dollar ransom for his release. The MILF has denied all involvement, and says the allegations could harm peace talks which have already been stalled for a year. Mars Buan:
BUAN: The thing with the area where the kidnapping took place it is largely an MILF stronghold, such that it would be far fetched that any kind of major incident in the area, especially a high profile kidnapping case such as that of Michael Sinnott would take place without the knowledge of the MILF, meaning at least its tacit approval.
MCCARTHY: Professor Abhoud Syed Lingga is the Executive Director of the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies in Cotabato City. He's sceptical of the government's claims:
LINGGA: The government thinks that some commanders of the MILF are involved, but this is vehemently denied by the MILF. So the MILF then offered its services to help in the rescue of Father Sinnott. So that at least means that the government says that the MILF is involved then it is the fact.
MCCARTHY: The MILF has been waging a rebellion for an independent Islamic state for more than 30 years. It signed a ceasefire in 2003, but peace talks broke down last year when MILF commanders launched raids across Mindanao. A spokeswoman for President Gloria Arroyo says the government is preparing to resume peace talks. Professor Lingga says the MILF's demands are reasonable.
LINGGA: I think what the MILF wants is a substantive power sharing arrangement, political power sharing arrangement between the Manila government and the Bangsamoro people, not only on the political aspects but also on the economic. And given the legitimate demands of the Bangsamoro people, and people in Manila should recognise.
