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by Kazi Mahmood KUALA LUMPUR (Islam Online) - Reports indicate that the United States may be becoming desperate in efforts to rid itself of the Schilling affair combined with dilemmas regarding whether to disclose the location of the Abu Sayyaf faction to the Philippine army. The U.S., however, has consistently insisted that it did not participate, nor assist the Filipinos, in the assault on Jolo. The latest confirmed report in Manila says that the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has apologized to the Philippines government for the "trouble" hostage Jeffrey Edward Schilling, an Afro-American, has caused. They have confirmed to the Philippines government Schilling's ties with the Abu Sayyaf group. Seif el Gaddafi, the son of President Muammar El Gaddafi earlier disclosed that the American had ties with the Abu Sayyaf and that Schilling was an arms dealer. The U.S. has denied these accusations, and has refused third party negotiations between the them and the Philippines government for the release and safety of Jeffrey Schilling. The Philippines army said they suspected Schilling was in connivance with his captors after Schilling made a pro-Abu Sayyaf speech when interviewed by DRXX radio in Manila. The interview could prove fatal to the Abu Sabaya group since the U.S. disclosed to the Philippines army the origin of the call, informers in Manila told IslamOnline. Observers are curious as to why, after initially keeping mum about the affair, FBI officials finally confided to the Philippine government about the U.S.'s consternation over the Muslim convert's involvement with the terrorist fringe of Islam. New military intelligence reports indicate that Schilling had visited Basilan two years ago to sell camouflage uniforms, night-vision goggles and some weapons to the Abu Sayyaf. Still in Jolo Reports indicate that Schilling is still in Jolo, within the range of government forces, intelligence officers operating in Manila told the Philippines government. The FBI reportedly monitored a satellite phone call from the American to his mother, Carol, last Wednesday, at 5:40 p.m. Scilling had informed the U.S. Embassy in Manila that he had been taken out of Jolo on a speedboat at the height of the military assault. As such, the Philippines government said the Abu Sabaya group could not have left the island since the speedboat they spotted had malfunctioned, possibly causing the group to come back to shore and, once again, going on the run. Military officers raised the possibility that the "captive" might actually shoot at his "rescuers," given the rantings in his diary, which was recovered earlier from an Abu Sayyaf camp. Both the FBI and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) have furnished copies of Schilling's alleged diary, although there has yet to be independent confirmation of its authenticity. Among Schilling's entries were letters for his live-in partner Ivy Osani and mother, Carol, which supposedly indicated the American's idiosyncrasies. But the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) maintains that in the absence of a proof to the contrary, Schilling is still regarded as a hostage, and his case, just another kidnapping. However, Schilling may face criminal proceedings if he is rescued from Jolo, reports said earlier. The U.S. authorities were very confident after the satellite phone calls that the Philippines army will free the hostage. However, it seems the Abu Sayyaf are proving more elusive for the Philippine army that dispatched 4000 men on the rescue mission. |
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