Peace group urges release of kidnapped Sri Lankan worker

Zamboanga City: A group of Muslims working for peace in Mindanao has condemned the kidnapping of a Sri Lankan national in Basilan last Friday.

The management and staff of the Bangsamoro Centre for Just Peace in the Philippines Inc. (BCJP) have sought the unconditional release of Umar Jaleel.

Jaleel is a former staff of Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) at Mutur in Sri Lanka, who later went to Mindanao to work with the NP in their Mindanao project four months ago.

Nine gunmen took him from his organisation's office in Barangay Maloong in Lamitan City around 2.30am last Friday.

The BCJP in a statement said: "The mission of Nonviolent Peaceforce is to build a large-scale trained, international civilian nonviolent peaceforce."

BCJP is among its partners in protecting human rights in Central Mindanao.

"Jaleel has fallen victim of the very violence that he has been trying to deter. We readily lend our moral support and prayers as we continue to move mountains & for his safety and early release," the group said.

The BCJP has appealed to law enforcers and the military to use all peaceful methods of negotiation.

"We also call on our religious leaders from both the Christian and Muslim faiths to extend whatever possible support."