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June 1, 2007

Philippines: Islamists Kidnap Four In Mindanao

News from DPA, Reuters, Associated Press, ABS CBN News:

Four people including one German citizen were kidnapped by Islamist rebels in North Cotabato, in the northwest of Mindanao, the largest southern island in the Philippines yesterday.

The German man was named as Thomas Wallraf, who was taken with his Filipino wife Sharon Jackson, their driver Diego Delfin and a Filipino woman, Consuelo San Juan, at Batulawan village near Pikit township. They were led with their hands tied to a van, and they were released after four hours, following interventions by MILF (the Moro Islamic Liberation Front). MILF is the largest of four Muslim rebel groups prominent on Mindanao. It has been engaged in peace negotiations with the Philippines authorities, which have been brokered by Malaysia.

Six men in paramilitary dress had staged the kidnap, as the group was conducting business connected with Thomas Wallraf's scrap metal business.

Elders from the villages of Balongis, Tinutulan and Balatikan had cooperated in negotiations for the four people's release, along with MILF. Filipino soldiers and MILF operatives cordoned off the area where the four were held hostage.

Early today, members of MILF had handed the four people to Malaysian peace monitors in Cotabato city.

Eid Kabalu (pictured) the spokesman for MILF, said: "The kidnappers were forced to abandon the victims. They erred in entering our area of responsibility."

The van belonging to the kidnapped individuals was abandoned, and was later traced to a "Rosalyn Timbal" of Maa, Davao City. The four had been based at Davao.

In other news, today MILF offered to help capture an Indonesian member of the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, who is said to be hiding out in the Liguasan marshes area.

This wetland region which encompasses Maguindanao provinces, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat is traditionally the "homeland" of the MILF. Last year, a contingent of JI rebels had taken refuge in this region, sheltered by members of Filipino terror group Abu Sayyaf, and also a renegade member of MILF. In November 2005 and January 2006 , a bombing campaign by the Filipino army had caused most of the JI and Abu Sayyaf members to flee Mindanao island and to seek refuge on the island of Jolo in the maritime province of Sulu.

The individual whom the MILF are offering to hunt down has been named as Benhir Abdul Maruwan, who is on a US list of wanted terrorists. Also known as Kumander Maruwan, he has been seen by in the Liguasan Marsh by local residents, claims Colonel Julieto Ando, spokesman for the 6th Infantry Division of the Filipino army.

Maruwan is said to be in regular contact with two senior Jemaah Islamiyah operatives - Dulmatin and Umar Patek, who had formerly been in hiding in Mindanao and who had fled to Jolo with Abu Sayyaf members last November. Maruwan is also said to have close links to Kumander Basit Usman. Maruwan is also said to have been behind the bombings of Tacurong and Cotabato which took place in October 2006. He is thought to be sheltered in the Liguasan Marsh by renegade members of MILF.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at June 1, 2007 2:41 PM

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