UBC experts commented on the killing of John Ridsdel, the 68-year-old Canadian kidnapped last September in the Philippines.
The militant group Abu Sayyaf that allegedly killed Mr. Ridsdel came out of an ethnic conflict in the Philippines, according to Will Plowright, a PhD candidate in political studies at UBC. While the group has publicly announced allegiance to the Islamic State, Plowright said there’s no real connection between the two organizations.
Both Plowright and UBC political scientist Arjun Chowdhury said the execution puts Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a difficult situation. Trudeau can’t abandon the government’s no-ransom policy.
“In this context, it becomes very difficult because the feelers from intelligence and diplomatic channels would already have already been tried,” said Chowdhury.
The articles appeared in the Globe and Mail and Toronto Star.
