Word: sayyaf
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...corner of Southeast Asia. The weapons are the lifeblood of the region's criminal activity, supplying robbers in Johor Baharu, pirates preying on the cargo ships that chug through the narrow Strait of Malacca and, yes, traders and buyers say, the region's radical Islamic groups such as Abu Sayyaf, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Laskar Jihad and the Free Aceh Movement...
...this point, Chay's boss takes over. He is in touch with many overseas syndicates, he says: "I have never met the end buyers but from my syndicate contacts, I know that it goes to Acehnese rebel groups, Burmese minority groups like the Karen, Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines and the rebel groups in Indonesia." Since he is playing such a dangerous game, doesn't he worry about getting caught? "The Thai army openly sells weapons," he says. "They are the biggest source of protection for the people involved in this business. What more do we want...
...Monday that a number of civilians had died in its assault, which began Saturday but showed no sign of easing up despite international criticism for risking the fate of some 19 hostages, including Schilling and two French photographers. Having been paralyzed by months of hostage negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf organization, the Manila government's decision to take harsh action is hardly surprising. After all, the $15 million in ransom money paid by Libya to secure the release of a group of European, Lebanese and South African tourists had only emboldened Abu Sayyaf to seize more hostages and had allowed...
...Although details remain unclear, Schilling may have initially gone willingly to an Abu Sayyaf camp before being abducted. The Berkeley graduate, who recently converted to Islam, had decided earlier this year to take his first trip abroad. He had befriended Filipino Muslims living in the Bay Area, and had headed for Zamboanga. There he met and quickly married a local lass, who happened to be related to Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya, who allegedly invited the couple to visit one of his organization's camps. But family ties didn't do much for Schilling - soon after his arrival, the group...
...Sayyaf, meaning "Bearer of the Sword," was set up in 1991 by Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani, a veteran of the anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan. With some 600 fighters, Abu Sayyaf says, it is struggling for an independent Muslim state, but its actions have been little more than localized terror and kidnapping. It is known to receive support from the Middle East, though claims that Osama bin Laden visited its operations have never been proved. In 1993 Abu Sayyaf rolled grenades down the aisle of a Catholic cathedral and killed seven worshippers. In 1995 its fighters invaded a Christian village...