Word: sulu
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...home. In 1991, Abu Sayyaf struck its first blow by killing two American evangelists in a grenade blast in Zamboanga. This was followed by a string of kidnappings, massacres and extortion operations. Cassette tapes of Janjalani's jihad sermons began circulating, and other gangs of Moro brigands in the Sulu islands?who specialized in running drugs and guns, kidnapping and growing marijuana?accepted Janjalani as their chief. Abu Sayyaf's increasing notoriety attracted the notice of fellow comrades-in-arms from the Afghan war. Bin Laden's brother-in-law and trusted aide, Mohammed Jamal Khalifa...
...other faction, based in the Sulu islands, is led by Galib Andang, nicknamed Commander Robot for the mechanical way he dances. Addicted to shabu (methamphetamines) and married to at least two of his female ex-kidnap victims, Andang directed the Sipadan raid. He is also known to be generous: so much of the Sipadan ransom spilled over onto his native island Jolo that the dollar fell among local traders from 50 pesos to 25. Another Sulu island commander is Raddulan Sahirun. In his 60s, Raddulan wears two revolvers around his waist like a fast-draw artist, even though...
...allowed Libya to broker a ransom deal. As a result, the ragtag band of one year ago has grown into a kidnapping army that can only get more audacious with every success. With Washington's backing, Arroyo refused all negotiation and ordered 5,000 troops into the scattered Sulu archipelago to, in the words of operational commander Brigadier General Romeo Dominguez, "rescue and destroy." Unlike last year, the Abu Sayyaf has made no attempt to pretend the kidnappings are for any higher ideal than money. Group spokesman Abu Sabaya has talked before of the value of U.S. captives. "One American...
...killing their captives. "Maybe we will stage an execution," Abu Sabaya told a local radio station via cell phone, adding: "Welcome to the party." As the skirmishes continued overnight with helicopter gunships backing the government troops, the guerrillas picked up reinforcements from among their 1,100 fighters in the Sulu archipelago. As the body count mounted?by Saturday evening, scores of soldiers, civilians and rebels, including commander Yusup Nadjal, were lying dead on the roads and in the jungle, or expiring in a local hospital?the Abu Sayyaf stormed St. Peter's Catholic church and the hospital, placed snipers...