Posted on 03/14/2005 5:56:50 PM PST by Indy Pendance
MANILA, Philippines Mar 14, 2005 — Muslim-extremist inmates accused of committing some of the Philippines' worst terrorist attacks agreed to surrender Monday after a botched jailbreak left five people dead, including three guards, but the deal broke down when the inmates demanded food, authorities said.
Early Tuesday, authorities threatened to storm the prison unless the inmates quickly surrender.
"We have directed the ground commander to make the announcement that we are giving them 15 minutes to surrender their firearms or we will take the option of arresting the perpetrators of the crime," Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes told reporters.
Crack troops, many of them U.S.-trained, and SWAT teams backed by two armored personnel carriers surrounded the maximum-security facility at Manila's Camp Bagong Diwa.
The jail has about 425 suspects, including 129 suspected members and leaders of the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group, which is notorious for deadly bombings and ransom kidnappings in which some hostages were beheaded.
Under the deal, the extremists were to air grievances to the media, and the others were then to emerge in groups of about 10, said Mujib Hataman, a Muslim congressman negotiating with the inmates by telephone.
The prisoners also demanded assurances they would not be harmed if they surrendered and that they would receive speedy trials, he said.
But the deal unraveled when the inmates said they wanted to eat first.
"We are demanding that they buy us food," detainee spokesman Hazdi Daie told The Associated Press by telephone. He threatened that if police stormed the building, "You will hear bombings all over Manila."
Metro Manila Police Chief Avelino Razon countered: "If they will surrender, lay down their arms and come out, they will get food."
The crisis began when suspected Abu Sayyaf members overpowered and stabbed their guards, then took away their pistols and ammunition, Razon said. A shootout ensued.
At least three guards were killed, said police Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. Two Abu Sayyaf members also were killed, police said.
Filipino detainees wave a white towel and display a "We are not Abu Sayyaf Group" from their detention cell during a standoff with Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf at Camp Bagong Diwa south of Manila, Philippines Monday March 14, 2005. At least three jailguards and one Abu Sayyaf detainee were killed in the ongoing standoff. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Do they have hostages? If not, I say burn it to the ground.
Just been following this on CNN Int., and I can tell you that the government has indeed stormed the prison. There was a lot of heavy gunfire.
Cheers.
More lovely Muslims....
Muslim-extremist...Isn`t that a synonym? Sort of like saying "murderer-killer"? Or "Democrat-psycho"?
A wounded jailguard shot by Abu Sayyaf prisoners is carried by police out of the Camp Bagong Diwa prison (seen in the background) in the Manila suburb of Bicutan following a jailbreak attempt.(AFP/Joel Nito)
Armed Philippine policemen take their post outside Camp Bagong Diwa prison in the Manila suburb of Bicutan following a jailbreak attempt by Abu Sayyaf prisoners.(AFP/File/Joel Nito)
Filipino Muslim women light candles as they call for the continuation of negotiations with their Muslim brothers at a rally outside Manila's Camp Bagong Diwa March 14, 2005. REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo
Filipino detainees look from inside their cell in a police detention center in a Manila suburb March 14, 2005. Islamic militants who took over part of the detention center and killed three guards are ready to surrender after the government agreed to their demands, negotiators said. About 10 suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf militant group holed up in the center after their failed escape attempt had asked the government to speed up their trials, guarantee their safety and human rights, and allow them to talk to media. Photo by Erik De Castro/Reuters
How 'bout "If you surrender in 15 minutes we'll consider letting you live. Otherwise we won't even consider that possibility".
I'm going to apply for cheif negotiator. I will get results.
You must give firm guarentees when negotiating :IF you don't surrender unconditionally in 5 minutes ,we WILL kill all of you . Simple and easily understood.
Napalm the place. It is a perfectly good prison, so the next batch of prisoners would only have to scrub the soot off. Besides, it would radically improve the attitudes.
Send in Janet LeReno.
Thats fine as long as I don't have to rule out killing all of them when they do surrender.
In my world we'd have fewer repeat offenders.
>>>authorities threatened to storm the prison<<<
THREATENED??????? Lock and Load baby, JUST DO IT, don't threaten, DO IT.
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