Losing the benefits of peace

The Jordanian journalist and his TV crew have fallen prey to a group of starving kidnap-for-ransom syndicate cum terrorists who once peddled themselves as Islamic militants. How they managed to slip through the peacekeeping forces that could have given them a situation report and caution in an area where a few vicious Abu Sayyaf members still operate defies imagination. They have brought this misfortune to themselves. The Jordanian must have thought that the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, having bandied themselves as Islamic militants, may give him the rare privilege of an interview. He was ignorant of the fact that the ASG are bereft of any political ideology and religious belief. He is therefore as good as any for ransom money or maybe for the guillotine if the same is not delivered.

The Abu Sayyaf is not only the killing machine of Al Qaeda but since the funding spigots from their traditional donors in the Middle East have been closed they have resorted to banditry and kidnapping to sustain their existence.

But the victim here is not the bull-headed mediaman who believes that the terrorist-cum-KFR is still an organized threat to the island province of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. While we do not know the agenda of the Jordanian, while there are loose talks that he has special links to Al Qaeda to allow him to have special privilege of obtaining scoops the fact is that he had been tagged as a kidnap-for-ransom victim. Each time an announcement like that hits the front pages of the newspapers and travel advisories are issued by nations wary of the security in the Philippines, we quickly lose whatever positive image we have difficulty of redeeming. The biggest loser of course, are the people of Sulu and the rest of the island provinces in Western Mindanao.

Each time a hostage or a victim of kidnapping is flashed worldwide the confidence building process suffers a setback. The enumerable opportunities for the islanders are lost and it will take years to recoup them. Denying the KFR and the terror group sanctuaries is the only way they can be totally eliminated. Now it is up to the island communities to take a bold and resolute stand to help eradicate the elements that had brought untold miseries in their existence. They should realize that they have been missing and losing the benefits of peace.