The 34-second video statement of Fr. Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross calls on the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) for the ‘safe, unconditional and immediate release of the three kidnapped (since 15 January) staff members of ICRC’ – Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni, and Filipina Jean Mary Lacaba. As neatly pointed out in that video, ‘the sole purpose of their (ICRC) work is to help those in need” and old Fr. Kellenberger even has to add that he knows of ‘no ideology, religious law justifying harm to humanitarian workers’. Has this message reached the dreaded Abu Sayyaf leader, Albader Parad?
Owing to the international character and reach of ICRC as an organization, how would one consider this message to have come from and for whom?
Apparently, this government caved in to pressure that DILG secretary is compelled to have ordered the pull out of police and military troops to pave the way for the release of the kidnapped – one at a time. That change of mind abandoned official policy earlier announced that it will not yield to the demands made by the Abu Sayyaf. Parallel-wise, the ICRC may have somehow relaxed its original position not to succumb to the threats poised by any terrorist group in the furtherance of their international humanitarian role. Based on reputation, ICRC is never likely to pay any ransom in exchange of the release of those kidnapped.
Thus, Abu Sayyaf simply succeeded to find the pressure points at which government or any international organization however with – hardline worldviews – must yield. The pull out is symbolic of the government’s chronic inability to take the upperhand in a situation that has been all too viciously carried out in much the same crippling mode in the past. In other words, the police joint with the military are just not in ‘control of the situation’ contrary to self-serving claim.
What was the so-called ‘gentleman’s agreement’ forged between the negotiating parties?
Would it be true that if the police and military, as they already did, pull out their troops within the desired 40 square kilometer radius, the ASG will in turn fulfill its promise to first, withdraw veiled warning to behead any or all of the kidnapped victims and second, that instead, each one of kidnapped ICRC members will be released to the government? Are we here made to understand that the ASG did not have to ask for ransom? And neither did government even volunteer to give any other concession? In other words, the scenario is simply one of how, with skill, both sides of the negotiation – can carry out his part of the bargain?
And who are we supposed to think decided how this final scenario will end? Could it be Sen. Dick Gordon? Could it be DILG Sec. Puno? Could it be ASG leader Albader Parad? Could it be DND Sec. Teodoro by simple non-dominant participation? If all of the three kidnapped victims be released, what could have been the concessions agreed upon that this government will be willing to reveal in public? Predictably, one camp in this historical conflict is expected to get the short end of the bargain than it is willing to accept without being accused of being inutile.
One now wonders if it is incumbent upon Sen. Gordon to ‘stake’ a role in what may probably be a purely military or police concern? It has not been clear likewise if it should be the DILG and not the DND that should have taken cognizance of what appears as a military problem. Why DILG Sec. Puno and not DND Sec. Teodoro instead to handle it since it’s more than just a matter for the PNP? With two departments participating – police contingent and military counterpart – perhaps, it should give the upperhand to the AFP, not PNP.
As the threat goes, the government security forces must pull out from the town where they held captive their kidnapped victims before the end of this month, or 31 March. And this resulted in a 36-hour action initiated by DILG Sec. Puno that started Saturday the future of which – is in the realm of the unknowns. To this, the government may just find itself in the ‘what ifs-scenario’ – should this negotiation eventually become a failure.
In the level of possibilities, a lot may be unforeseen. It is possible that ASG still beheads their captives – all three of them – and no one walks free. On the part of government, it might go into an unexpected ‘self-destruct’ mode should signs otherwise indicate the need to go back to the original military plan.
Or it can probably granted that there was a general consensus between and amongst the inter-agency group consisting of the AFP, PNP, the Local Government Unit concerned, even Senate and the crisis management team of the DILG to have backpedalled on their original plan presumably to provide what Puno calls a ‘breathing space’ for the kidnappers as well as those kidnapped.
It remains of uncertain validity whether the final action taken by the Arroyo government would have been the best possible option. It would seem that the unfolding event has just elevated the Abu Sayyaf Group to a co-equal status with the government in that it can summon its adherence to what it demands. To think that this is supposed-to-be a criminal group engaged in banditry, kidnappings, killings, extortions, ransoms, and other lawless activities, at no point must any self-respecting government ever have to ‘bend backwards’ since it might find itself guilty of in fact providing more ‘inducement’ for the ASG and similar enemies of State to pull the same scenario in the future.
This brings RP in the international stage and we play either – hero or villain – in this Catch 22.
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“A Monkey is a Gazelle in the eyes of its Mother”
Old Arab Saying
If we want to understand how the Terrorists think, we must understand
their mentality. Most of those Arab countries, even if they are rich
with petro dollars, are ruled by monarchy, dictatorship or military
government. There is no Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, and
absolutely no Freedom of Religion. The Ayatollah or the Imam is the
Supreme Authority. Religious Police are on the prowl to enforce the
Sharia Laws which are derived from the Koran.
Al Queda means in English: The Base or The Foundation. They are
establishing a Foundation to pave way for a Caliphate Rule , first
in the Muslim Areas, then, the Whole Mindanao, and possibly the
whole Philippines.
Osama Bin Laden may look like Monkey to us. But, his followers of
Islamic Radicals. He look like a Gazelle.
Tactic of Al Queda:
1. Bombing of places where there are a lot of people. The more people
they kill. This spectacular show of terror will be the news. More recruits will come to their cause, they believe.
2. Kidnapping. Make the Hostages as part of the Propaganda to bring
Terror to people. People will then be easily intimidated. Especially, if they see beheadings.
3. Establish Safe Havens for Terrorist. So that they can operate
with impunity. This was the reason they have: Falluja, Iraq;
Al Queda ruled Provinces in Pakistan, etc…
Premier Vladimir Putin of Russia. With his military starategists successfully defeated Al Queda in Checknya, Russia.
Terrorists even made hostages children in a school, in Cheknya. Killed some of the children. Now, Al Queda can no longer operate in Russia, Inspite of its heavy Muslim population.
I know, there are good Muslims who just want to go on with their
lives. Raise families, have successful careers, and be a part of the
society. However, we have to fight extremism, or fundamentalism on
all religions: Christians, Muslims, Hindus, etc..if we want to have
peace in our country.
The Al Queda strategy is a reckoning of the 12th century when Muslim was divided into Orthodox Sunnites, who were the followers of Prophet Mohammed and the Unorthodox Shiites who only accepted the earthly rule of the Prophet descendants.
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Some Shiites further branched to Ismailites where Hassan Ben Sabban after so many oddities traveling around promoting Ismailism reach Daylam, part of Persia southern highland adjacent to the Caspian Sea. Atop the two thousand meters rock in Elburr Mountain, he found the castle of Alamut, which were the refuges of the independent Shiites.
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Here he installed himself the Chief or the Sheik, choosing Sheik Al Jebal, literally translated as the old man of the mountains (similar to present day Osama) that instilled respect amongst his men and terrorized his opponents. After him came the three Dai-Al Kirbal or the summoner and then the Dai’s as missionaries who went out to conduct recruitment, the Fidas or the devoted ones were the predecessor of Fadayeen and later the Al Queda terrorists on Middle East during the closing of 20th and beginning of 21st century. Below them were the Lasiks or the masses that were used for menial works (and now sources of suicide bomber recruits) but knew nothing of the upper echelons.
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It was undoubtedly a genius organization as shown in the manner on how Hassan took over the castle and from this vantage location, he sent out his missionaries to surrounding villages to convert inhabitants into Ismailism while housing his recruits around the castle. Exotic chambers and gardens were created at Alamut where neophytes were catered and thought about paradise. Dancing girls and musical instruments entertained the new comers and hashish were served to provide great satisfaction.
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Novitiates have ultimate sensual pleasure, which now controlled their wellbeing and then brought to the sheik with assurance of eternal pleasure in paradise and would repay implicit and blind obedience. The drugged youths underwent brainstorming sessions after sessions and with great emphasized of the word … KILL! … KILL! … KILL! After their minds were under controlled, graduated with a golden dagger. So the hashish or hashasin eaters gave their name as Assassins, which later our dictionaries adapted the word.
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Hassan exploited the blind obedience of those assassins to the outmost satisfaction of his greed. On his reign, whoever ran against his teaching of Ismailism was assassinated. And now on our modern times, bombs instead of golden daggers are use but the same paradise and religious anathema and motivations are being employed in obtaining blind obedience to the “Unlucky Recruits”.
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Now, to rationalize the true motive of the above, can they qualify to be called Muslim? Muslim is a teaching of Islam and Islam is peace. This is the true motive of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon Him) when preaching righteousness amongst the nomadic tribes. Or are we dealing with “Designed Greed”.
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It appears now that some quarters inclined on the Fundamentalism of Ismailite and hence Ismailism had departed from the principle of Shiite dogma where Shiite had also deviated from the original Sunnite that was the Orthodox Muslim where Islam is the sole teaching. The general feeling therefore, that true sense of Fundamentalist does not belong anymore to Islam but just keep on using Muslim as their cover and protection to pursue their designed greed. They have to use genius and all drastic means to endeavor their “WILL” to the world inhabitants as had Hassan Ben Sabban, the self-proclaimed sheik has done to took-over the Castle of Alamut for the foundation of Ismailite Doctrine with the used of his Assassins. This strategy is being blindly followed by ASG-Al Queda-linked terrorists to survive.
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Malcolm X a.k.a. El Hajj Malik El Shabazz quoted before his death on February 21, 1965 and it quote: “ I did many things as Muslim that I am sorry now. I was a zombie then – like all rigorist Muslims – I was hypnotized, pointed in a certain direction and told to march. Well, I guess a man is entitled to make a fool of himself if he’s ready to pay the price. It cost me twelve years in limbo and a death warrant.
It is of doubtful validity whether the Marines assigned in the area know about the religious dimension of this long-drawn conflict in Mindanao.
But as Fr. Kellenberger says – he knows of no law, he knows of no religious law – that would in effect aim to harm or kill by beheading those who are on a humanitarian mission since they help people in need.
Even the ASGs need help, not just from ICRC but from government itself. Problem is, long decades of government neglect may have strengthen the roots of their religious belief.