The Abu Sayyaf Group (1991– )

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Philippine Muslim leader killed
BBC News Online, 19 December 1998. Police in the Philippines say the leader of a Muslim extremist group has been killed in a police raid on Basilan Island in the south of the country. The dead man has been identified as Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani, the founder and chief of the Abu Sayyaf (Bearer of the Sword) group.
Who are the Abu Sayyaf hostage-takers?
BBC Online News, Tuesday 2 May 2000. Abu Sayyaf—or “Father of the swordsman” in Arabic—was named after a mujahedin fighter in Afghanistan in the 1980s, where a number of its members fought against the Soviet-backed regime. Previously a faction within the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), it split off in 1991 to pursue a more fundamentalist battle against the Philippine authorities.
Libya raps kidnap as un-Islamic
AP, AFP, The Straits Times, 10 May 2000. A Libyan envoy yesterday accused Muslim rebels who snatched 21 Western and Asian hostages more than two weeks ago of inhumanity and violating the tenets of Islam by holding innocent people.
Manila riled by KL's direct talks with rebels
By Luz Baguioro, The Straits Times, 21 May 2000. Malaysia says the Abu Sayyaf wants its participation, while Philippine officials believe it could divide negotiations to free the hostages.
Abu Sayyaf at heart of Islamic war after $17m hostage deal
By Richard Lloyd Parry, Independent, 29 August 2000. Enriched by Libya's multi-million dollar pay-off, the world's most ruthless terrorists now pay $1,000 a head for new recruits. Until four months ago, few people in the world had heard of the rabble of mercenaries, Islamic students and mujahedin known as Abu Sayyafa, a splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
New fighters flock to join cash-rich rebels
By Luz Baguioro, The Straits Times, 3 September 2000. A flood of ransom money has drawn thousands of new recruits to the Abu Sayyaf kidnap gang and has turned the rebel group into a hydra that has become more difficult for the Philippine government to slay.
‘Robot just wants to return to wives’
Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network, The Straits Times, 5 October 2000. Abu Sayyaf leader Galib Andang, alias “Commander Robot”, is now repentant and wants to stop fighting to return home to his wives.
15 rebels of group holding 5 hostages surrender
AFP, The Straits Times, 11 October 2000. Fifteen Abu Sayyaf gunmen holding five hostages surrendered yesterday as the Philippine military stepped up an assault in southern Jolo island to rescue the captives.
Where do we stand? Whats must we do?
A Position Paper by Jovito R. Salonga, 18 October 2000. A Position Paper for the October 17, 2000 meeting and for other subsequent meetings of Kilosbayan, Bantay Katarungan and Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundations, as edited on October 18, 2000. The Estrada presidency. Argues in favor of calling for a resignation.