Gulf News says: Kidnapping should stop

In the Philippines, the separatist group, Abu Sayyaf, have again involved in kidnapping of foreign tourists and Filipinos working in the hotel and tourism industry. The group is threatening to kill the hostages, and again, the government is following two tracks in their handling of the problem: negotiations and military action. The Abu Sayyaf know their territory well, and appear to be able to keep out the military's way.

A major problem is that the central government has not fully implemented the promises made at various times under various governments to the separatists, and their former allies who have broken away to accept the autonomy option. The separatists who have tried to take the more peaceful route of going for autonomy find themselves unable to deliver. Delays and failures have dogged the autonomy tracks, with the postponement of the referendum in ten provinces of Mindanao being just another example. The long-term solution to the continuing strife is political and economic, while the short term solution is military.