Abus: Let’s make a deal

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels gave the government yesterday a last chance to negotiate for the release of two kidnapped Americans and a Filipina nurse held for 10 months in the jungles of Basilan.

An Abu Sayyaf spokesman said they wanted to open talks for the release of missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and nurse Deborah Yap, remnants of a kidnapping spree by the rebels last year.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo predicted yesterday the inevitable destruction of the Abu Sayyaf and expressed as her birthday wish the safe rescue of the Burnhams and Yap.

The President cited the greatly improved intelligence gathering capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) through the technical and material assistance extended by US forces involved in an ongoing joint military training exercise in Basilan and nearby Zamboanga City.

"The indications are sooner than later, we shall really completely annihilate the Abu Sayyaf group," Mrs. Arroyo said. "And once we annihilate them, that includes also the safe rescue of their three hostages."

The Abu Sayyaf spokesman, who identified himself as Abu Sulaiman, said the group would hold negotiations only if the Philippine military vice chief of staff and one-time head of the Armed Forces Southern Command, Lt. Gen. Gregorio Camiling, served as a go-between.

"This offer, perhaps the last one, should be an opportunity for the government to resolve this problem. If only for humanitarian reasons, we are more than willing to give another chance to resolve this difficult situation," Abu Sulaiman told Radio Min-danao Network.

He did not mention any ransom, but said since the government opened peace negotiations with other Muslim rebel groups, they should open talks with the Abu Sayyaf as well.

The Philippine and US governments have ruled out negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf, which they have termed as a terrorist group, and instead called for the unconditional release of the hostages.

The kidnappers are being hunted by 5,000 Philippine troops in the jungles of Basilan island, backed by US troops taking part in joint exercises in the south.

Both Manila and Washington have linked the Abu Sayyaf with the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.

Sulaiman denied allegations that the Abu Sayyaf remitted ransom money raised in previous kidnappings to al-Qaeda, saying such reports were a "terrorist plot" by "Uncle Sam."

However, he said "if we have the means, we will help our helpless brothers in Palestine."

At least 660 US soldiers, including 160 Special Forces, are involved in the maneuvers dubbed Balikatan 02-1.

The President, who turned 55 yesterday, said she wished for the safe recovery of the Burnham couple who were snatched by Abu Sayyaf gunmen from the posh resort of Dos Palmas in Palawan in May last year, as well as Yap who was captured in Lamitan town in Basilan a few days later.

"My wish is that they (Burnhams) and Deborah will be rescued sooner," Mrs. Arroyo said.

She also expressed satisfaction over the progress of the Balikatan which she described as "more relevant" in the country’s war against local terrorists.

In a related development, US forces have beefed up security measures due to threats of potential attacks from Abu Sayyaf bandits.

"The threat is very credible. They are dangerous people and the advantage of terrorism is that they can strike anytime in any place," said US Army Col. David Maxwell, commander of the Special Forces’ First Battalion.

"We never relax as long as the Abu Sayyaf is here," Maxwell said.

He said that whatever actions they take would be in accordance with the terms of reference of the exercise.

Despite the threats, the American servicemen pursued their social outreach activities in remote areas of Basilan.

Maxwell indicated that their civic action gave them the opportunity to evaluate the social and economic problems that bred terrorism in the province.

"There is a need to eliminate the condition that gives rise to terrorism," Maxwell said.

He added that the Balikatan will continue its current level of operations even if the hostages are rescued.

"We are not going to conduct unilateral operations. We are just going to help the Philippine armed forces. So when the hostages are released, we will continue to operate on the same level," Maxwell said.

The American troops are barred from taking part in actual combat but may fire back in self-defense.

A US Chinook helicopter taking part in the maneuvers crashed in February, killing all 10 servicemen aboard. An unmanned American aerial spy plane also plunged into the sea off Zamboanga City last Sunday.

Militias battle Abu Sayyaf

Local militias belonging to the 12th Company of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) in Lantawan town in Basilan battled an Abu Sayyaf band believed holding the three hostages.

A militiaman wounded in the clash on Thursday night in the jungles near Lantawan was airlifted by a US military helicopter to a hospital in Zamboanga City where he was declared in stable condition.

The militiaman, identified as Deonald Tulah, was hit in the chest.

This marked the third nighttime evacuation of casualties of sporadic fighting in Basilan by US Pave Hawk choppers since the launching of the six-month-long Balikatan.

Thursday’s clash involved paramilitary forces trained by the Americans and some 20 fully armed Abu Sayyaf guerrillas led by Isnilon Hapilon.

The military reported that the Abu Sayyaf bandits suffered an undetermined number of casualties.

Army Lt. Col. Danilo Servando, spokesman for the AFP’s Southern Command based in Zamboanga City, said the fighting broke out after the local militias were informed about the presence of Hapilon’s group in their community.

"The initial call for help was received about 40 minutes after midnight. Once the location of the wounded soldier was known, an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter took off from Edwin Andrews Air Base to pick up the wounded soldier," said Maj. Cynthia Teramae, spokeswoman for the US Special Operations Command Task Force 510.

The American soldiers are also training the paramilitary units in basic home defense to combat possible attacks by the Abu Sayyaf that often conduct raids in far-flung villages to sow terror and force the residents to support their movement.

"The presence of the CAFGU has cut the food supply of the Abu Sayyaf and forced this bandit group to go out from hiding to look for food. So this is the result of the recent encounters we had against them (Abu Sayyaf)," Servando said.

Basilan provincial spokesman Christopher Puno said the fighting continued until early Friday morning, but he could not say if there were any more casualties. — AFP, Marichu Villanueva, Roel Pareño