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U.S. Rejects Abu Sayyaf Ransom Demand
By IslamOnline Correspondent Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA, Nov. 28 (IslamOnline) - The U.S. State Department on Wednesday rejected suggestions that it should pay ransom for the release of American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham from the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
In a press briefing, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said he thought the U.S. made it clear "we don't make concessions to terrorists."
"We don't pay ransom and we consider statements made by hostages in captivity to have been made under duress," added Boucher. "So our view is that they should be released immediately and unconditionally and safely."
Boucher issued the statement after the Burnham couple on Monday appealed for their release.
Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya hinted that his group was "willing to negotiate" the release of their captives but that they preferred to die fighting than surrender.
The Burnham couples', from Wichita, Kansas, are Christian missionaries with the New Tribes Mission and have three children aged 10, 12 and 14. Based in the Philippines for 15 years, they were at Dos Palmas resort off Palawan to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary when they were kidnapped.
Another American, Guillermo Sobero, and 17 other Filipino guests were also kidnapped that day. The group beheaded Sobero in June.
Some of the Filipino hostages were also beheaded, while others were freed after ransom payments.
The United States has linked ASG to Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network, the prime U.S. suspects in the deadly September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
The ASG claims to fight for an Islamic state in Mindanao, but pursues kidnap-for-ransom as its main activity.
Philippine army Southern Command deputy chief Col. Francisco Gudani said the massive military offensive has crippled the Abu Sayyaf. He said the number of rebels in Basilan and Jolo islands are estimated at 600 from the more than 1,200 in June.
"Military operation in Basilan has crippled the Abu Sayyaf and weakens their organization. We killed a lot of them and captured many more," Gudani said.
Gudani said a total of 127 rebels were killed and 25 wounded in clashes from June 1 to Nov. 14. He added that 202 suspected rebels were captured by the police and military in the crackdown against the Abu Sayyaf and their supporters.
The deputy chief also disclosed that 34 soldiers were killed and 15 wounded in battles with the Abu Sayyaf during the same period.
Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu said, "We are close in rescuing the hostages. The troops are now concentrating in tracking the kidnappers and the hostages in central Basilan."
More than 7,000 soldiers were mobilized by the government to pursue the Abu Sayyaf. And the U.S. has sent observers and military personnel to assist the Filipino military in their pursuit of the Abu Sayyaf.
U.S. President George W. Bush also said his government would provide total support to the government of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to eliminate the Abu Sayyaf.
Arroyo received a pledge from the U.S. government that it would send more military aid to help crush ASG and other Muslim separatist groups.
The military has also accused the ASG of forging an alliance with a renegade faction of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Nur Misuari in carrying out attacks in Jolo, Sulu. The firefight resulted in the death of at least 160 persons last week.
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