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By Julmunir I. Jannaral, Correspondent
COTABATO CITY: A high official of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) based in Manila on
Monday condemned the recent atrocities of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
in Sulu that included the burning of an elementary school building
in Patikul, Sulu.
Prof. Taha Basman, a Unesco commissioner said he
condemned in the strongest sense the burning of Datu Uddin Bahjin
Elementary School, which was shown in a newscast last week. The
video material showed classrooms that were totally damaged and razed
to the ground. The military accused the ASG as the perpetrator.
“As Unesco official and as a Muslim, I
strongly condemn the burning of the school which is the citadel of
learning where our children can practice the Divine Guidance of
“Iqra,” or seeking knowledge and reading,” Basman said.
Basman appealed to the Abu Sayyaf Group not to
touch the edifice of learning in the course of their armed revolution,
which is the same group now already listed by United States as
terrorists and suspected of having a link to the al-Qaeda Group of
Saudi Arabian billionaire turned terrorist Osama bin Laden.
“I appeal to the ASG not to block the future
of the youths by burning educational institution and other similar
edifices of learning,” the Unesco commissioner added.
In the same manner, Basman, who is also
the president of the Center for Moderate Muslims (CMM), which is
advocating moderation among Muslims as opposed to extremism in
Islam, said the CMM as an organization will not tolerate acts of
terrorism as perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf.
He said if the Abu Sayyaf is really fighting in
the name of Islam as what they are claiming, then once and for all
they should refrain from any terrorist acts like victimizing
innocent civilians whether Muslims or Christians. “Islam is a
religion of peace and should not be used as a shield to perpetuate
terrorism or to use Islam for one’s self-vested interests,”
Basman pointed out.
It can be recalled that the Abu Sayyaf, which
the military claimed as already dead as an organization, has once
again proved its existence and continues to conduct rampage in
Patikul.
On December 25, while the rest of the nation was
in a festive mood including residents of this city celebrating
Christmas, Abu Sayyaf armed men attacked Taglibi, a commercial
business center in Patikul, Sulu around 12:45 in the morning,
according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) provincial police
office based in Jolo, Sulu.
According to the PNP, hundreds of people were
seen evacuating from the area to avoid being caught in the crossfire
as Philippine Marines and Army contingents had fierce fights with
the Abu Sayyaf.
The military said the ASG raiders is believed to
be under Commander Raddulan Sahiron, also known as “Commander
Pukol.”
One Tausug resident in Jolo who asked for
anonymity for security reasons told The Manila Times that for the
past months the Abu Sayyaf is tagged as the prime suspect
responsible for the spate of kidnapping and other crimes in the
province of Sulu.
In spite of continuous military operations in
Sulu, the Abu Sayyaf managed to turn kidnapping into lucrative
business, demanding ransom money in exchange for the freedom of
hostages,” the Tausug informant further said.
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