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Abu Sayyaf Leader Janjalani Included on U.S. Terrorists List
With additional reporting by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA, Dec. 20 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The United States on Wednesday, upon the insistence of the Philippines government, included Abu Sayyaf chief Khadaffy Janjalani on the U.S. list of most wanted terrorists.
Local Philippine Armed Forces welcomed the move saying that Janjalani's inclusion in the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) list would restrict his movements in case he flees the Philippines to sanctuaries in any part of the world.
The Philippines has also pledged that the leader of the kidnap gang, which is still holding two Americans hostage, would be extradited to the U.S. if captured.
Janjalani is currently on the run, hunted by both the Philippines and U.S. Marines in the heartland of Basilan island on the province of Solo.
Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan, Philippine Armed Forces' spokesman, said, "Janjalani's movements will be curtailed even if he escapes to any part of the world because anti-terrorist forces of the free world of the allied nations will run after him wherever he goes."
Adan said Janjalani is looked upon by other Abu Sayyaf leaders and members as their "spiritual leader", and as one who provides the "ideological foundation" of the bandit group.
Janjalani succeeded his elder brother, Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani, the founder of the Abu Sayyaf, who was killed in a gunfight with policemen in December 1998.
Adan said Khadaffy Janjalani is consulted first before the bandit group undertakes any operation, execution or beheading.
"Using his perverted and twisted understanding of the Qu'ran, Janjalani justifies the abductions of Christians and demands [them] for ransom," he said. "He is not just a military commander, but he also provides the ideological basis of their struggle."
The Philippines military on Wednesday appealed to the U.S. to refocus its anti-terrorism efforts from Afghanistan to the Philippines.
Adan said the government was still discussing the matter and that any assistance to crush terrorism in the country would be most welcome.
He said U.S. special forces are currently training local counterparts in using the latest military equipment in Zamboanga, which is close to Basilan and Sulu where the Abu Sayyaf operates.
"Terrorists strike not only Filipinos, they strike any nationality and we should be open-minded if there are nations willing to help fight terrorism. That is welcome as long as our sovereignty is respected," Adan said.
But DFA spokesman Victoriano Lecaros said the Philippines should have "first crack" at Janjalani once arrested. "Janjalani has broken Philippine laws."
The Abu Sayyaf has been reported to have had links with Osama bin Laden' al-Qaeda network, whom the U.S. suspects of masterminding the deadly September 11 attacks on Washington and New York.
U.S. Assistant State Secretary James Kelly supported the idea saying, "I think the government of the Philippines and its judicial system is fully capable of exacting justice from the Abu Sayyaf terrorists."
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