RP troops arrest more rebels on hostage island<\/p>\n
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (Agencies): Philippine troops have
\narrested three more suspected members of the Muslim Abu Sayyaf
\ngroup holding about 20 Filipino and U.S. hostages for weeks on
\nsouthern Basilan island, the military said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The arrest of the three, one of whom is a policeman, brought
\nto 84 the number of suspected rebels arrested by the military and
\npolice since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered a
\ncrackdown on the group more than a week ago.<\/p>\n
A military spokesman said the policeman, who was a relative of
\nan Abu Sayyaf leader, and the two other suspects were arrested
\nlast Saturday on Jolo island, near Basilan.<\/p>\n
The hostages included three Americans who were abducted by the
\nAbu Sayyaf from a resort off Palawan island on May 27 and brought
\nto the guerrillas' hideout on Basilan, 900 km south of Manila.<\/p>\n
The guerrillas said last month that they had beheaded one of
\ntheir U.S. captives but there has been no independent
\nconfirmation of the report.<\/p>\n
The military did not say if the detained suspects actually
\ntook part in the taking of the hostages. The military says the
\nAbu Sayyaf has about 1,000 members of whom about 100 took part in
\nthe kidnap operation.<\/p>\n
The Abu Sayyaf is one of two groups fighting for an Islamic
\nstate in the south of the mainly Roman Catholic country but
\npursues kidnap for ransom as its main activity.<\/p>\n
Peace talks<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Philippine government negotiators are to leave for
\nMalaysia on Monday to resume formal peace talks with separatist
\nMoro rebels, the leader of the team said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Manila concluded the first round of talks with the Moro
\nIslamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Tripoli, Libya four weeks ago
\nby signing a nationwide cease-fire.<\/p>\n
Chief government negotiator Jesus Dureza said the Kuala Lumpur
\nround would focus on the mechanics and implementation of the
\ntruce, as well as "matters about the development of the conflict
\nareas."<\/p>\n
"First there will be an opening ceremony on Tuesday," he told
\nAFP.<\/p>\n
The agenda would then be handed over to joint technical
\nworking committees, and the negotiators would meet again "after
\ntwo or three days" to ratify any agreement, he added.<\/p>\n
The 12,500-member MILF has been waging a 23-year guerrilla
\ncampaign over the mainly western half of the large southern
\nisland of Mindanao and nearby islands.<\/p>\n
The month-old truce was broken on Friday in a clash near the
\ntown of Butig that left two soldiers wounded and an armored
\ninfantry vehicle damaged, southern Philippines military spokesman
\nCol. Jogi Fojas said.<\/p>\n
A military patrol stumbled into an MILF training base,
\ntriggering a firefight, he told reporters.<\/p>\n
Army artillery later pounded the Muslim rebel camp, but there
\nwere no reports of guerrilla casualties.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rp-troops-arrest-more-rebels-on-hostage-island-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}