Breakthrough in prison revolt

Philippines: The Un-Australian: "NEGOTIATORS last night made a breakthrough in the 12-hour standoff with al-Qa'ida-linked militants?, (suspected and imprisoned people) who staged an escape attempt from a Philippines prison that left six people dead."

"Hundreds of snipers and police special forces units had surrounded a group of armed prisoners on an upstairs floor of the Camp Bagong Diwa jail." "The militants?, had earlier overpowered prison guards and seized three of their guns during a routine early-morning count of the 435 prison inmates, who include 129 members of the al-Qa'ida-linked Abu Sayyaf group?, facing trial for kidnapping and murder."? "The ensuing shoot-out died down by mid-morning as negotiators using loudspeakers started trying to persuade the prisoners to surrender. "

Funny how the alleged militants got the guns off the real militants yet they're regarded by the Un-Australian's as militants? Are the prisoners militants because they got the guns after being pissed off with their treatment or are the militants the militants they got the guns off?

What about,' the prisoners had earlier overpowered prison guards and seized three of their guns during a routine early-morning count of the 435 prison inmates, who include 129 people of an alleged suspected terrorist group, facing trial for allegedly kidnap and murder'.

See how Australian you can be if you're on side and honest about it? So why can't the Un-Australian actually report the truth? Your guess is as good as mine but I dare say they must like the terrorist ideal? Question is what compels them to lie and take up the terrorist ideology? What's in it for them?

Anyway to cut a long wrong story short let's see if we can show them the error of their wicked ways at the Un-Australian Newspaper, aye!

Reasonable request

The negotiators won provisional agreement for the prisoners to end the standoff in exchange for security guarantees, the right to a speedy trial, and access to the press to air their case and the right to have their own lawyers. And better prison conditions.

"It's a win-win solution," national police spokesman Leopoldo Bataoil told reporters?

But late last night however, the surrender had yet to begin.

Better conditions

The prisoners who negotiated the terms called for better jail conditions and a faster resolution of the criminal cases against them.

Blah Blah Blah

However, state prosecutors insisted the violence was part of an escape attempt hatched by the Abu Sayyaf members as early as last month?

"We warned the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology about three weeks ago, and as late as last week, of the planned escape attempt. Apparently our warnings were ignored," state prosecutor Peter Medalle told reporters.

Lots of suspicion and mere speculation

State prosecutor Leo Dacera said the authorities had intercepted a telephone conversation between Alhamser Limbong, the leader of the prison revolt, and Abu Sayyaf leader Jainal Sali, who is still at large, in which the detainee "requested that eight safehouses be prepared"?

The Manila jail holds many of the top leaders of the Abu Sayyaf?, as well as some of the suspects in the worst terrorist attacks in The Philippines. They include the suspects?, in the 2000 bombing of Manila's overhead rail system that claimed more than 20 lives, and the alleged perpetrators?, of the firebombing of a ferry on Manila Bay last year that killed more than 100 people, Mr Bataoil said.

Manila police spokesman Superintendent Agerino Cruz said three jail guards and one prisoner had been killed.

Other police sources put the death toll at six, including four prison inmates and two prison guards. The sources said a prisoner and a guard were wounded. Two prison guards were dragged out of the building by colleagues and carried to ambulances. Manila police chief Avelino Razon said the uprising appeared to have been instigated by "a core group of 10".

Don't believe Lomibao

The gunmen were "hardened criminals, terrorists", national police chief Arturo Lomibao said.?

Parouk Hussin, the governor of a Muslim self-rule area in the south called the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and legislator Mujib Hataman had entered the prison compound to help authorities negotiate with the gunmen.

Blah Blah Blah

Mr Bataoil said the gunmen were 'believed to be led'?, by Alhamser Limbong and Tahir Abdul Gafar, both on trial for the kidnapping of a group of tourists, including three Americans, in the western Philippines in 2001. Several of the captives, including two Americans, were later killed in the year-long hostage drama.

But with all the speculation, beliefs, suspects and allegations it makes you wonder whose telling the truth? And why these men tried to escape makes more sense than what the prison authorities and the government purport.

What is wrong with the right to a speedy trial, access to the press to air their case and the right to have their own lawyers? What is wrong with better prison conditions?

In short a prison revolt for a revolting prison, no doubt!

If we are going to believe the eventual judgement here in Australia, I take it that the proceeding would be fair and just? Especially if the Australian authorities and pro-government media press in Australia are going to highlight terrorist and the dangers by promoting witches and demons that aren't given a fair and speedy trial with access to the press to be able to help the rest of us understand exactly what happened to them?

By The Un-Australian and Just Us 15 March 05