EDITORIAL - Tragedy in Talipao

With a peace deal in the works, there was much to celebrate in Mindanao as Muslims marked the end of Ramadan starting Monday. In Sulu, however, the rejoicing was punctured by tragedy as some 40 armed men descended on a gathering in Talipao town that was supposed to be in celebration of Eid’l Fitr. The gunmen killed 21 people, mostly women and children including a nine-month-old infant. Two more fatalities were reported yesterday.

Security forces attributed the attack to the Abu Sayyaf, which has remained active in the province. Reports from Sulu said the attack could have been in retaliation for the assistance given by civilians to security forces in hunting down the Abu Sayyaf.

The bandit group has lost most of its top commanders in recent years but continues to pillage communities and snipe at government forces. It has also continued to engage in kidnapping for ransom and is still holding two Europeans captive.

Public education, economic activities and free religious worship in Sulu have been seriously disrupted by Abu Sayyaf operations, making the province one of the poorest and most underdeveloped in the country. The group, which sometimes partners with the Southeast Asian terrorist cell Jemaah Islamiyah in staging bombings and other atrocities, also continues to operate in Basilan.

Eliminating the threat should not be an impossible task, if the work of security forces can be complimented by development efforts and citizen participation. Local governments in conflict zones play a crucial role in denying armed groups safe havens and public support. The national government must give its full backing to local officials in this effort and assist in rallying residents to help put an end to violence. The latest heinous attack in Talipao should fire up the government’s resolve to root out the Abu Sayyaf scourge.