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Kidnapped Sri Lankan Peace Worker Freed By Abu Sayyaf
3 June 2009
A kidnapped Sri Lankan peace worker was freed by Abu Sayyaf militants in the island of Basilan in Mindanao, after four months in captivity. Umar Jaleel, who works for the Nonviolent Peaceforce, was released late Wednesday, June 3, in the village of Silangkum in Basilan’s Tipo-Tipo town. Jaleel told police that he was beaten up by the Abu Sayyaf and only fed him with root crops every three days. “Jaleel was beaten up because he could not pay ransom. He was tortured from time to time, report said. The Abu Sayyaf seized Jaleel on February 13 in the Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) headquarters in Lamitan City also in Basilan. The Brussels-based Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) said Jaleel was freed without ransom. “Jaleel was released through negotiations between a spokesperson for the captors and the non-violent peace force, with the assistance of local contacts including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and supported by the provincial administration,” said Mel Duncan, executive director for NP. “The release was accomplished nonviolently and without payment of ransom. We are grateful and relieved for the safe return of Mr. Umar Jaleel. We are thankful to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its forces in Basilan, the Moro National Liberation Front, the crisis management committee of Basilan, the Provincial Governor of Basilan, the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for their cooperation during Jaleel’s captivity,” Duncan said. On the side of the MILF, Hajji Rashid Iklaman, a member of its Bangsamoro Development Agency, negotiated with the kidnappers for the safe release of Jaleel. “Hajji Iklaman contacted us and said that Umar Jaleel would be freed and we have coordinated with the military and the provincial government for his recovery,” he said. Despite the kidnapping, the Nonviolent Peaceforce said it would continue working for peace in Basilan. “We are not discouraged by this traumatic event,” Duncan said, as quoted by the Manila Times. “This is even more reason to intensify our efforts in supporting local work that promotes peace and coexistence. NP supports the use of proven nonviolent strategies to resolve conflicts and prevent the unpredictable consequences of violence. While this has been an arduous ordeal, I urge everyone to not demonize anyone involved.” “We are glad that Jaleel and his family will be reunited in Sri Lanka in the very near future,” Duncan added. Atif Hameed, a native of Pakistan and country director for the NP Philippine project, worked on the ground using nonviolent strategies. He said Jaleel, an experienced peace worker, asked to begin working in the Philippines to help improve Muslim-Christian relations and support local peace organizations. Nonviolent Peaceforce currently has 17 international civilian peacekeepers and 22 local staff serving in the Mindanao region.
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