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Gunmen fire on fishermen in Philippines, kill 15 |
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MANILA, Philippines—Gunmen in the restive southern
Philippines opened fire on three boats and killed 15 fishermen in what
officials said Tuesday was likely an attack by a rival group protecting
its lucrative fishing grounds.
The fishermen were aboard three small, wooden-hulled vessels off Sibago Island in Basilan province when attackers in speedboats fired on them Monday morning and then sped away, military spokesman Lt. Col. Randolph Cagangbang said. There were about 10 attackers, police said. No arrests have been made yet as the news reached authorities late because of the remoteness of the area, senior police official Felicisimo Khu said. Basilan is a stronghold of Muslim rebels who have been fighting for minority self-rule in the predominantly Christian nation for decades, as well as criminal and kidnap gangs. Law enforcement in the area is weak, and deadly clan feuds fueled by business and political rivalry are rampant. Businesses often pay protection money to armed groups and hire their own private guards. Read the complete Associated Press article in The Boston Globe
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HASTINGS: Time to improve the Endangered Species Act
May 18, 2012 - When the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was signed into law in 1973 by President Nixon, he spoke about the importance of preserving “the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed.” I believe that goal is as important today as it was back then. However, after nearly 40 years, it’s time to take a fresh, honest look at the law and consider whether there are ways it could be improved to do a better job of protecting and recovering species.