RP militant Moslem group gets weapons<\/p>\n
MANILA (AFP): The Abu Sayyaf, a militant Moslem group in the
\nsouthern Philippines, has received an arms shipment from abroad,
\nDefense Secretary Renato de Villa said yesterday, but he could
\nnot verify reports that it included surface-to-air missiles.<\/p>\n
"The statement ... that there has been some landing is
\naccurate but in terms of whether they have surface-to-air-
\nmissiles ... has to be verified," De Villa said.<\/p>\n
He was referring to a recent disclosure made by the military
\nchief of the southern Philippines, Lt. Gen. Orlando Soriano, that
\nthe Abu Sayyaf had acquired anti-aircraft guns and surface-to-air
\nmissiles in the shipment.<\/p>\n
The Abu Sayyaf are a fundamentalist Moslem armed group in the
\nsouthern Philippines who have been blamed for a series of attacks
\non Christian targets in recent years.<\/p>\n
Last week, the Abu Sayyaf beheaded a Christian village chief
\nand his son and have threatened to kill other Christians.<\/p>\n
"We have been watching this situation carefully because it
\ncould provide additional problems for us in the south, especially
\nif these firearms already landed in large quantities together
\nwith ammunition", De Villa added.<\/p>\n
He did not specify where the arms shipments came from.<\/p>\n
President Fidel Ramos' chief security adviser, Jose Almonte,
\nsaid the information "has been reported to us for quite a time
\nalready and we have been looking at it seriously," adding that
\nthe government was also checking with other nations although he
\ndid not give details.<\/p>\n
Almonte also said yesterday that he was concerned over the
\nrise of Taiwan's independence movement, which is vehemently
\nopposed by China and could spark a war between two of Manila's
\nclosest neighbors.<\/p>\n
Almonte, who is considered President Fidel Ramos' closest
\nadviser and is well-known for his controversial statements, urged
\nthe Philippine cabinet to give the issue closer scrutiny.<\/p>\n
He told reporters that cabinet members concerned with security
\nfelt "that we have to consider more seriously the cost of the
\nsituation in Taiwan, where there is apparently a movement towards
\nmore nationalism and therefore a possibility that a trend may be
\nmoving towards independence."<\/p>\n
China "will not tolerate such a situation," he added, quoting
\ngovernment security aides.<\/p>\n
However, Almonte said he remained convinced that Asia "will
\ncontinue to be benign" and that the Philippines "will continue to
\nexperience relative peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific
\nregion."<\/p>\n
"We believe that the Chinese are very responsible people," he
\nsaid, despite Beijing's declarations that it would respond with
\narmed force to any declaration of independence by Taiwan. "We
\ndon't think any serious problem will arise because of that."<\/p>",
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