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Monday, July 11, 2016

Indonesia urges action as high-seas kidnappings surge

Jakarta - Indonesia called Monday on Malaysia and the Philippines to do more to secure their "unsafe" waters after the weekend abduction of sailors by suspected Islamist militants.

Armed men in a speedboat kidnapped the three sailors late Saturday from a Malaysian-flagged trawler in Malaysian waters off Borneo island and took them towards the strife-torn southern Philippines, officials said.

The kidnappers were apparently targeting Indonesian citizens, as three Malaysian sailors and an Indonesian who concealed his nationality were released from the same vessel, the military said.

It takes to 24 the number of Indonesians kidnapped this year in the vital waterway between the three countries, with Philippine Muslim militant outfit Abu Sayyaf accused of being behind all the abductions.

"This kind of incident cannot be tolerated at all," said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

"Serious efforts, I repeat, serious efforts, must be taken immediately b oth by the Philippine and Malaysian governments." "This goes to show that the waters of Malaysia and the Philippines are unsafe," added Indonesian armed forces chief Gatot Nurmantyo.

Abu Sayyaf leader Alhabsi cheers beheading of hostages in chilling video clip
  • A red alert has been raised in Sabah following an open declaration of support for the Islamic State (IS) movement by Isnilon Hapilon - one of the most wanted terrorists with up to RM16mil (S$6.3 million) bounty on his head.

  • The 48-year-old Abu Sayyaf leader, along with masked men, posted a video of themselves on YouTube in July but intelligence sources said it gained momentum on social media last month.

  • Sources said pro-IS and jihadist websites in Bahasa Malaysia were being watched following this new development.

  • In the video, which appeared to be shot in the jungles of southern Philippines, the IS movement's symbolic black flag is depicted in the opening scene.

  • In the six-minute clip, Hapilon is seen wearing a black gown, linking his arms with his men, some of whom wore masks.

  • Speaking mostly in Arabic and in his native dialect of Yakan, they swore allegiance to IS and its head Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in the form of baiah or oath of loyalty.

  • The video clip provided security agencies with the most updated photograph of Isnilon, who appears to have gained weight after previous photographs showing him to be much thinner after reports that he had suffered a stroke.

  • It is believed that the video was meant to inspire support for the IS movement, especially in South-East Asia.

  • The video was soon followed by Jemaah Islamiah (JI) spritual leader and founder of its reincarnation, Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT), Abu Bakar Baasyir calling on his followers to join IS.

  • It is learnt that Abu Bakar had gathered high-ranking JAT leaders and family members at the Pasir Putih prison in Indo­nesia before ordering them to support the IS.

  • Wanted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investiga­tion as well as security agencies in Malay­sia, Isnilon is said to be responsible for a raid on Pom Pom island in Semporna on Nov 15, 2013.

  • A regional intelligence analyst said that Isnilon and his men carry out kidnappings to finance their terror activities, and may have beheaded an American kidnap victim.

  • The video clip ended with Isnilon leading the group in a prayer.

  • More details are beginning to emerge of Alhabsi Misaya, the notorious Abu Sayyaf leader, who is said to be holding marine policeman Kons Zakiah Aleip hostage in southern Philippines.

  • He is one of the gunmen responsible for the beheading of seven factory workers in Jolo, Southern Philippines in 2007, as discovered in an online video.

  • The 14-minute video clip, recorded by Alhabsi himself, sees a group of gunmen leading the hostages to different spots in the jungle where the brutal act is carried out.

  • Alhabsi can be heard reciting Quranic verses as the first hostage is made to lie face down before his head is pulled back by one of the gunmen and severed with what appears to be an army knife.

  • The recording depicts the killing of each worker in gory detail, and at one point, Alhabsi even zooms in on a severed head while making a celebratory comment.

  • Towards the end of the video, the gunmen approach the remaining hostage and are seen tying his hands behind his back while asking him several questions.

  • They then lead him into the jungle, but his fate is unknown, as the recording ends abruptly.

  • Zakiah, 26, was snatched from a resort in Sabah's east coast when eight masked gunmen in military fatigues attacked Mabul Island last Saturday.

  • The gunmen also killed another policeman, Abdul Rajah Jamuan, 32.

  • Madam Salamah Ahmad, wife of Corporal Rajah Jamuan who was killed in an attack by armed Filipino gunmen, showing a photograph of her late husband.

  • The Star/ANN, YouTube screengrabs

  • A red alert has been raised in Sabah following an open declaration of support for the Islamic State (IS) movement by Isnilon Hapilon - one of the most wanted terrorists with up to RM16mil (S$6.3 million) bounty on his head.

  • The 48-year-old Abu Sayyaf leader, along with masked men, posted a video of themselves on YouTube in July but intelligence sources said it gained momentum on social media last month.

  • Sources said pro-IS and jihadist websites in Bahasa Malaysia were being watched following this new development.

  • In the video, which appeared to be shot in the jungles of southern Philippines, the IS movement's symbolic black flag is depicted in the opening scene.

  • In the six-minute clip, Hapilon is seen wearing a black gown, linking his arms with his men, some of whom wore masks.

  • Speaking mostly in Arabic and in his native dialect of Yakan, they swore allegiance to IS and its head Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in the form of baiah or oath of loyalty.

  • The video clip provided security agencies with the most updated photograph of Isnilon, who appears to have gained weight after previous photographs showing him to be much thinner after reports that he had suffered a stroke.

  • It is believed that the video was meant to inspire support for the IS movement, especially in South-East Asia.

  • The video was soon followed by Jemaah Islamiah (JI) spritual leader and founder of its reincarnation, Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT), Abu Bakar Baasyir calling on his followers to join IS.

  • It is learnt that Abu Bakar had gathered high-ranking JAT leaders and family members at the Pasir Putih prison in Indo­nesia before ordering them to support the IS.

  • Wanted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investiga­tion as well as security agencies in Malay­sia, Isnilon is said to be responsible for a raid on Pom Pom island in Semporna on Nov 15, 2013.

  • A regional intelligence analyst said that Isnilon and his men carry out kidnappings to finance their terror activities, and may have beheaded an American kidnap victim.

  • The video clip ended with Isnilon leading the group in a prayer.

  • More details are beginning to emerge of Alhabsi Misaya, the notorious Abu Sayyaf leader, who is said to be holding marine policeman Kons Zakiah Aleip hostage in southern Philippines.

  • He is one of the gunmen responsible for the beheading of seven factory workers in Jolo, Southern Philippines in 2007, as discovered in an online video.

  • The 14-minute video clip, recorded by Alhabsi himself, sees a group of gunmen leading the hostages to different spots in the jungle where the brutal act is carried out.

  • Alhabsi can be heard reciting Quranic verses as the first hostage is made to lie face down before his head is pulled back by one of the gunmen and severed with what appears to be an army knife.

  • The recording depicts the killing of each worker in gory detail, and at one point, Alhabsi even zooms in on a severed head while making a celebratory comment.

  • Towards the end of the video, the gunmen approach the remaining hostage and are seen tying his hands behind his back while asking him several questions.

  • They then lead him into the jungle, but his fate is unknown, as the recording ends abruptly.

  • Zakiah, 26, was snatched from a resort in Sabah's east coast when eight masked gunmen in military fatigues attacked Mabul Island last Saturday.

  • The gunmen also killed another policeman, Abdul Rajah Jamuan, 32.

  • Madam Salamah Ahmad, wife of Corporal Rajah Jamuan who was killed in an attack by armed Filipino gunmen, showing a photograph of her late husband.

  • The Star/ANN, YouTube screengrabs

    Separately, the Philippine military said Abu Sayyaf, which has earned millions of dollars from kidnappings-for-ransom, was behind the latest outrage.

    The three new captives would add to the seven Indonesians and two Europeans already being held by the group, said Philippines military spokesman Major Filemon Tan.

    In May, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines agreed to launch a coordinated patrol of the waters after the recent surge of kidnappings. Nurmantyo said that defence ministers from the three countries were due to meet in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday to further discuss the plan.

    Of the Indonesians abducted this year, fourteen were released after being held in Abu Sayyaf's stronghold in the southern Philippines but there was no information on whether a ransom was paid.

    A further seven were kidnapped in the area last month, after which Jakarta banned Indonesian-flagged vessels from sailing to the Philippines.

    Malaysian hostage beheaded by Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines
  • A retired Italian priest held hostage for six months by suspected Islamic militants left a Philippines hospital a day after his release, looking frail though officials said he was in good health.

  • A thin Rolando Del Torchio waved to journalists as he walked to a waiting ambulance after spending the night in a military hospital in the southern port of Zamboanga

  • "The victim is emaciated. He has lost a lot of weight compared to what we saw in his old pictures," regional military spokesman Major Filemon Tan told reporters.

  • Del Torchio had worked as a missionary for the international organisation PIME in the south from 1998 before retiring in 2000 to set up his restaurant.

  • Malaysian hostage Bernard Then was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf terror group on Jolo Island in southern Philippines. The Philippines military claimed a breakdown in the negotiations led to Then's execution.

  • Sandakan restaurant manager Thien Nyuk Fun was freed by the Abu Sayyaf group on Nov 8 after nearly 6 months in captivity.

  • She was reportedly brought back home after taking an eight hour speedboat ride to Sandakan early Monday.

  • A busy seafood restaurant close to Sandakan, Sabah, where 2 Malaysians were abducted from on Thursday May 14, 2015.

  • A Sarawakian electrical consultant working in Cambodia, Bernard Then, 39, who was abducted by Abu Sayyaf from a busy seafood restaurant

  • Also snatched was restaurant manager, Thien Nyuk Fun, 50.

  • They are being held by Abu Sayyaf sub-commander Indang Susukan who was demanding 30 million pesos (about S$900,000) for their freedom.

  • Families of the two Malaysians have been receiving calls from the Abu Sayyaf group, threatening to carry out the beheading.

  • External view of Ocean King Restaurant's seafront, where the kidnapping took place.

  • However, the families have been unable to raise the money and were seeking help from the Prime Minister as well as chief ministers of Sabah and Sarawak.

  • Unlike previous kidnap victims who were mostly hidden in jungle hideouts, sources said the two Malaysians were now being moved all the time to avoid capture by Philippine military or police.

  • The Star/ANN, AFP

  • A retired Italian priest held hostage for six months by suspected Islamic militants left a Philippines hospital a day after his release, looking frail though officials said he was in good health.

  • A thin Rolando Del Torchio waved to journalists as he walked to a waiting ambulance after spending the night in a military hospital in the southern port of Zamboanga

  • "The victim is emaciated. He has lost a lot of weight compared to what we saw in his old pictures," regional military spokesman Major Filemon Tan told reporters.

  • Del Torchio had worked as a missionary for the international organisation PIME in the south from 1998 before retiring in 2000 to set up his restaurant.

  • Malaysian hostage Bernard Then was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf terror group on Jolo Island in southern Philippines. The Philippines military claimed a breakdown in the negotiations led to Then's execution.

  • Sandakan restaurant manager Thien Nyuk Fun was freed by the Abu Sayyaf group on Nov 8 after nearly 6 months in captivity.

  • She was reportedly brought back home after taking an eight hour speedboat ride to Sandakan early Monday.

  • A busy seafood restaurant close to Sandakan, Sabah, where 2 Malaysians were abducted from on Thursday May 14, 2015.

  • A Sarawakian electrical consultant working in Cambodia, Bernard Then, 39, who was abducted by Abu Sayyaf from a busy seafood restaurant

  • Also snatched was restaurant manager, Thien Nyuk Fun, 50.

  • They are being held by Abu Sayyaf sub-commander Indang Susukan who was demanding 30 million pesos (about S$900,000) for their freedom.

  • Families of the two Malaysians have been receiving calls from the Abu Sayyaf group, threatening to carry out the beheading.

  • External view of Ocean King Restaurant's seafront, where the kidnapping took place.

  • However, the families have been unable to raise the money and were seeking help from the Prime Minister as well as chief ministers of Sabah and Sarawak.

  • Unlike previous kidnap victims who were mostly hidden in jungle hideouts, sources said the two Malaysians were now being moved all the time to avoid capture by Philippine military or police.

  • The Star/ANN, AFP

    A handful of Malaysian sailors have also been kidnapped this year.

    Abu Sayyaf, who are based on remote and mountainous southern islands, this year beheaded two Canadian hostages after their multi-million-dollar ransom demands were not met, and in 2015 executed a Malaysian hostage.

    The group is a loose network of a few hundred Islamist militants, formed in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network.


    Source: Indonesia urges action as high-seas kidnappings surge

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