DATE=05/07/2002

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-09868

TITLE=EDITORIAL: ATTACKING ABU SAYYAF

INTERNET=Yes

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY ALL SERVICES.

Anncr: Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government:

Voice: The war on terrorism is a different war, fought on many fronts. In Afghanistan, the U.S.-led coalition is pressing forward with a military campaign that has removed the Taleban regime from power and left the al-Qaida terrorist network scattered.

But the war is not limited to Afghanistan. From Spain to Singapore, the U.S. and its partners are breaking up terrorist cells and disrupting their plans. By the end of April, more than one-thousand-six-hundred terrorists and their supporters had been arrested or detained in sixty-eight countries around the world.

The latest victory came with the arrest in the Philippines of two senior members of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group. Abu Sayyaf is estimated to have several hundred terrorists and is based on the islands of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, in the southernmost section of the Philippines.

Those arrested are Satar Yacub, said to be the fourth-ranking leader of Abu Sayyaf, and Salip Abdullah, a lieutenant of Abu Sayyaf leader Khadafy Janjalani. According to news reports, in a separate incident on May 5th, four other members of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group were killed by Philippine police. The terrorists were attempting to launch an attack in the area of the Philippine city of General Santos.

Abu Sayyaf is an extremist Muslim group linked to al-Qaida. It finances its operations through robbery, piracy, and kidnappings. Abu Sayyaf has been involved in bombings and the abduction and killing two years ago of a Roman Catholic priest. Almost a year ago, Abu Sayyaf kidnapped three Americans. Shortly thereafter, they murdered Guillermo Sobero of California. Martin and Gracia Burnham, an American missionary couple, remain in captivity, and have recently been threatened with death. The United States will see that justice will be brought to any terrorist group that harms American citizens.

The Philippine government has thousands of troops engaged in anti-terrorism efforts. They are assisted by approximately one-thousand U.S. forces helping with training, logistics, intelligence, and communications. U.S. troops are also participating in counter-terrorism training exercises.

As President George W. Bush said, "We are making progress [in the war against terrorism]. Yet nothing about this war will be quick or easy.... We will continue for as long as it takes, until the mission is done."

Anncr: That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government. If you have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A, Washington, D-C, 20237, U-S-A. You may also comment at www-dot-ibb-dot-gov-slash-editorials, or fax us at (202) 619-1043.