Monday, May 12, 2014 4:57:09 AM
Two Germans kidnapped in Philippine waters, says Sabah police chief
"The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has described attempts to link their guerillas to the kidnapping of a China tourist in Semporna on Wednesday as “black propaganda”.
MNLF spokesman Absalom Cerveza said they were not hostile.
He said in the past, MNLF have been instrumental in negotiating the release of several hostages in kidnapping incidents in Sulu, including a tourist who was kidnapped in Sipadan, Sabah a few years ago.
MNLF is helmed by Nur Misuari. Its breakaway Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was involved in the recent inking of a peace pact with Manila. MNLF was left out.
MNLF, MILF and Abu Sayyaf are islamic groups marauding in Mindanao. "
Published: Thursday May 8, 2014 MYT 4:05:00 PM
Updated: Thursday May 8, 2014 MYT 9:02:02 PM
by muguntan vanar
KOTA KINABALU: Two Germans who were found missing from their yacht were reportedly taken by Abu Sayyaf gunmen in waters off southern Philippines.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the alleged kidnapping occurred in Palawan waters and not Sabah’s northern Kudat as claimed by some reports.
"It has nothing to do with Sabah," he said.
Dr Stefan Viktor Okonek, 72, and Henrite Dielen, 42, who were island-hopping in the Mindanao area was found missing from their yacht in the seas near Palawan area that neighbours Sabah’s northern Kudat.
There are suspicions that they were taken by Abu Sayyaf extremists to Jolo.
Philippines Armed Forces Western Command chief Lt Gen Roy Deveraturda had said that the Germans left Palawan on April 25 and were visiting islands in Mindanao before going to Sabah.
"Their yacht has been recovered and no one has come forward to claim responsibility," he said, adding that the Germans were listed as missing until further information as to there whereabouts are available.
A peace advocate, Prof Octavio Dinampo, of the Mindanao State University in Sulu has claimed that the two Germans were being held in Jolo together with Chinese tourist Gao Hua Yuan, 29 and resort worker Marcy Darawan, 40, who were taken from the Singamata Resort in Semporna on April 2.
Dinampo said he was not sure if the latest victim, fish farm manager Yang Zai Lin, 34, from China, who was kidnapped off Lahad Datu on Tuesday had arrived in Jolo based on reports given to him by his sources on the island.
Related articles:
Is the hand of Misuari behind spate of kidnappings?
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/08/Is-the-hand-of-Misuari-behind-spate-of-kidnappings
Gunmen fluent in Malay, says farm worker
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/08/Gunmen-fluent-in-Malay-says-farm-worker
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/08/sabah-kidnap-germans-taken-from-philippine-waters/
====
'Kidnapping a cottage industry in poverty-stricken Sulu'
Published: Sunday May 4, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Sunday May 4, 2014 MYT 10:49:36 AM
SULU: The hinterland of Jolo island is a terrorist stronghold which even the marines cannot penetrate, according to a source from the Philippines National Police (PNP) anti-kidnapping group.
“Civilians will text the Abu Sayyaf if they spot the marines. Some troops end up being killed in an ambush.
“Sabah is a soft target. It is near Tawi-Tawi islands and there are many vulnerable resorts in Semporna,” said the PNP anti-kidnapping group source.
According to Father Romeo P. Villanueva, who heads a human rights NGO called Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation, Semporna is a target for the Sulu kidnappers because of its proximity to Jolo island.
“They can easily cross the border,” said Father Romeo, who is a Catholic priest based in Jolo town. “They know that Malaysia is not secure.”
Jolo island was also lawless, said Father Romeo. “If the security forces neutralise them in Sulu, they would not be able to do cross-border kidnapping,” he said.
Kidnapping, the priest noted, had become a cottage industry in poverty-stricken Sulu, which is the poorest province in The Philippines.
An Armed Forces of The Philippines intelligence officer described kidnapping as a big business.
“After the Sipadan hostages were released, it rained dollars in Sulu. That was how big the ransom was,” said the CEO of Assist Jolo, Octavio A. Dinampo, who lives in Jolo island.
Some Sulu politicians, Dinampo alleged, also sponsored kidnapping operations.
“Each time they lose in an election, they regain campaign expenses by organising kidnappings,” he said. “Some politicians organise kidnappings in Jolo island to make their winning rival look bad.”
Whenever there was a kidnapping in Semporna, Sulu province would get a bad name as the media would report that the hostage was held in Jolo island, noted Sulu provincial police director Orbita.
“Sometimes, it is true but not all the time,” he said. “Sometimes the hostage is kept somewhere else and when the ransom negotiation is complete, they will release the victim in Jolo island.”
Orbita said there were islands outside Sulu province that were ideal for holding hostages.
Related stories:
Game of smoke and mirrors in kidnap isle
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/04/Game-of-smoke-and-mirrors-in-kidnap-isle
Where kidnapping is a lucrative industry
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/04/Where-kidnapping-is-a-lucrative-industry
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/04/Kidnapping-a-cottage-industry-in-povertystricken-Sulu/
.. why is it called kidnapping when adults are kidnapped, too? .. just napping doesn't
fit at all .. how about humanapping? .. though it sure isn't funny, 'huma' still fits ..
oh .. Sulu?? .. just off the northern tip of Malaysia ..
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=92082975
"The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has described attempts to link their guerillas to the kidnapping of a China tourist in Semporna on Wednesday as “black propaganda”.
MNLF spokesman Absalom Cerveza said they were not hostile.
He said in the past, MNLF have been instrumental in negotiating the release of several hostages in kidnapping incidents in Sulu, including a tourist who was kidnapped in Sipadan, Sabah a few years ago.
MNLF is helmed by Nur Misuari. Its breakaway Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was involved in the recent inking of a peace pact with Manila. MNLF was left out.
MNLF, MILF and Abu Sayyaf are islamic groups marauding in Mindanao. "
Published: Thursday May 8, 2014 MYT 4:05:00 PM
Updated: Thursday May 8, 2014 MYT 9:02:02 PM
by muguntan vanar
KOTA KINABALU: Two Germans who were found missing from their yacht were reportedly taken by Abu Sayyaf gunmen in waters off southern Philippines.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the alleged kidnapping occurred in Palawan waters and not Sabah’s northern Kudat as claimed by some reports.
"It has nothing to do with Sabah," he said.
Dr Stefan Viktor Okonek, 72, and Henrite Dielen, 42, who were island-hopping in the Mindanao area was found missing from their yacht in the seas near Palawan area that neighbours Sabah’s northern Kudat.
There are suspicions that they were taken by Abu Sayyaf extremists to Jolo.
Philippines Armed Forces Western Command chief Lt Gen Roy Deveraturda had said that the Germans left Palawan on April 25 and were visiting islands in Mindanao before going to Sabah.
"Their yacht has been recovered and no one has come forward to claim responsibility," he said, adding that the Germans were listed as missing until further information as to there whereabouts are available.
A peace advocate, Prof Octavio Dinampo, of the Mindanao State University in Sulu has claimed that the two Germans were being held in Jolo together with Chinese tourist Gao Hua Yuan, 29 and resort worker Marcy Darawan, 40, who were taken from the Singamata Resort in Semporna on April 2.
Dinampo said he was not sure if the latest victim, fish farm manager Yang Zai Lin, 34, from China, who was kidnapped off Lahad Datu on Tuesday had arrived in Jolo based on reports given to him by his sources on the island.
Related articles:
Is the hand of Misuari behind spate of kidnappings?
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/08/Is-the-hand-of-Misuari-behind-spate-of-kidnappings
Gunmen fluent in Malay, says farm worker
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/08/Gunmen-fluent-in-Malay-says-farm-worker
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/08/sabah-kidnap-germans-taken-from-philippine-waters/
====
'Kidnapping a cottage industry in poverty-stricken Sulu'
Published: Sunday May 4, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Sunday May 4, 2014 MYT 10:49:36 AM
SULU: The hinterland of Jolo island is a terrorist stronghold which even the marines cannot penetrate, according to a source from the Philippines National Police (PNP) anti-kidnapping group.
“Civilians will text the Abu Sayyaf if they spot the marines. Some troops end up being killed in an ambush.
“Sabah is a soft target. It is near Tawi-Tawi islands and there are many vulnerable resorts in Semporna,” said the PNP anti-kidnapping group source.
According to Father Romeo P. Villanueva, who heads a human rights NGO called Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation, Semporna is a target for the Sulu kidnappers because of its proximity to Jolo island.
“They can easily cross the border,” said Father Romeo, who is a Catholic priest based in Jolo town. “They know that Malaysia is not secure.”
Jolo island was also lawless, said Father Romeo. “If the security forces neutralise them in Sulu, they would not be able to do cross-border kidnapping,” he said.
Kidnapping, the priest noted, had become a cottage industry in poverty-stricken Sulu, which is the poorest province in The Philippines.
An Armed Forces of The Philippines intelligence officer described kidnapping as a big business.
“After the Sipadan hostages were released, it rained dollars in Sulu. That was how big the ransom was,” said the CEO of Assist Jolo, Octavio A. Dinampo, who lives in Jolo island.
Some Sulu politicians, Dinampo alleged, also sponsored kidnapping operations.
“Each time they lose in an election, they regain campaign expenses by organising kidnappings,” he said. “Some politicians organise kidnappings in Jolo island to make their winning rival look bad.”
Whenever there was a kidnapping in Semporna, Sulu province would get a bad name as the media would report that the hostage was held in Jolo island, noted Sulu provincial police director Orbita.
“Sometimes, it is true but not all the time,” he said. “Sometimes the hostage is kept somewhere else and when the ransom negotiation is complete, they will release the victim in Jolo island.”
Orbita said there were islands outside Sulu province that were ideal for holding hostages.
Related stories:
Game of smoke and mirrors in kidnap isle
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/04/Game-of-smoke-and-mirrors-in-kidnap-isle
Where kidnapping is a lucrative industry
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/04/Where-kidnapping-is-a-lucrative-industry
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/04/Kidnapping-a-cottage-industry-in-povertystricken-Sulu/
.. why is it called kidnapping when adults are kidnapped, too? .. just napping doesn't
fit at all .. how about humanapping? .. though it sure isn't funny, 'huma' still fits ..
oh .. Sulu?? .. just off the northern tip of Malaysia ..
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=92082975
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