August 23, 2000, Philippine Daily Inquirer, US, Malaysia offer to join fight vs Sayyaf,

August 23, 2000, Philippine Daily Inquirer, US, Malaysia offer to join fight vs Sayyaf,

THE UNITED States considers the Abu Sayyaf a "terrorist" group and would help Manila combat them if asked, a US Embassy spokesman said yesterday. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, too, said his government planned to help Manila secure the release of the remaining hostages, although he did not specify what kind of help to give. 

The two countries expressed their support for the Philippine government even as negotiators said Libya and the Philippines have decided to accept a formula for releasing the remaining 28 hostages of the Abu Sayyaf in at least two batches--the women first, followed by the men. 

The Abu Sayyaf "is in the US state department's watchlist, it's one of a number of organizations around the world that we consider terrorist organizations," US mission spokesperson Thomas Skipper told reporters yesterday. "The US is committed to helping any way it can to combat these groups, to help other governments combat these groups," Skipper said after attending a briefing on the hostage crisis by Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. 

The form of assistance "would depend on what sort of help is requested," he added. The Abu Sayyaf holds 12 Westerners and 16 Filipinos in their stronghold in Jolo. Nine of the westerners were among 21 people the Abu Sayyaf abducted on April 23 in Malaysia's Sipadan island dive resort. 

Skipper said Washington supported the Philippine government's efforts "to mediate the hostage crisis, to get the hostages free as quickly as possible." He refused to comment on the involvement of Libya, which offered to bankroll a hostages-for-aid package that came close to ending the crisis last weekend until the kidnappers backed away at the 11th hour. 

US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Michael Malinowski last week urged Manila to bring the Abu Sayyaf leaders to justice for their actions amid reports that they would seek asylum abroad once the hostages are freed. "I think in any case of international terrorists who flee, what they are fleeing from is justice of course," Malinowski said. 

"And we would think that anyone who is engaged in international terrorism as a crime should be brought to justice, tried and have their case adjudicated," he added. "That would be our position on the Abu Sayyaf as well." 

New policy approved 

After Saturday's failed release, chief government negotiator Roberto Aventajado said he recommended a new policy, which Libya approved yesterday, in dealing with the Abu Sayyaf. Aventajado said the new approach would retain President Estrada's order that negotiators work for the release of all the Western hostages at once, but gave no other details. 

Filipino and Libyan negotiators said they would meet the rebels this week with the new formula for the release of the foreign hostages but some officials said chances of ending the crisis soon were dim. The negotiators refused to disclose details of the new proposal. But a member of the Libyan negotiating team said Libya and the Philippine government had decided to accept a rebel demand that the hostages be released in at least two batches. 

The first batch would consist of the remaining Western women--a South African and three French. One woman of Lebanese background, Marie Moarbes, acquired French citizenship while in captivity. The men's release would follow, according to the Libyan, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We couldn't do otherwise, we have no choice," the Libyan said. The guerrillas have been apprehensive about releasing all the hostages at once, fearing the military would bomb their mountain strongholds afterward. 

Optimism returns 

Aventajado and Libyan envoy Rajab Azzarouq, the key men trying to resolve the four-month-long hostage saga, worked out the release formula in discussions in Manila. "There is every hope that both Ambassador Azzarouq and Secretary Aventajado will be able to get this thing done very quickly," Press Secretary Ricardo Puno Jr. said in a radio interview. "I think optimism has returned." 

Puno said President Estrada had allowed Aventajado to use his discretion and a "certain amount of flexibility" in the all-or-nothing condition. "The President's all-or-nothing condition remains," Puno said. "But as I said, according to Secretary Aventajado, he had been given authority to try to work out something and make decisions on the ground." Puno quoted the President as telling Aventajado: "I want to stick to this policy, but you have the authority to make decisions on the ground." 

On or before Friday 

Mohamed Ismail, an aide of Azzarouq, also sounded hopeful. Asked when the negotiators would go to Jolo to discuss the new formula with the rebels and bring back the hostages, he said: "I think by Friday at the most, though possibly before that." 

On President Estrada's all-or-nothing condition, Ismail said, "We respect the instructions of the President and I think this is the best way to do it. These people (hostages) have been waiting for so long now. There is frustration." But other officials close to the talks were less sanguine. "Almost nil," one official told Reuters when asked about the chances of the rebels releasing their captives at the same time. "They (the rebels) have always been consistent in their position of releasing the hostages on a staggered basis," the official said. "We do not dictate the situation. They dictate the situation." 

Three Malaysians freed by the rebels in the jungle on Friday were flown home on Sunday. An estimated $5.5 million was paid last month to the Abu Sayyaf for the release of six other Malaysians and a German, according to Philippine military officials. The large ransom payments have led to fears that the rebels would buy more weapons and conduct more kidnappings. 

Assistance and arrests 

The Malaysian national Bernama news agency quoted Prime Minister Mahathir as saying on Monday he did not want others to think that Malaysia only cared for the freedom of its own citizens. Mahathir did not specify how Malaysia would help the Philippines in the hostage crisis, but insisted that he had "no idea" whether any ransom was paid. 

"We've been striving to secure the freedom of hostages taken ill, like the Lebanese, but I have not been updated on the progress yet," Mahathir told reporters in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, where he is attending a financial conference. Malaysia is mounting more air and sea patrols along the whole of the coastline of its easternmost state of Sabah to prevent any repetition of the April 23 kidnapping, said Malaysian internal security director Abdul Hamid Mustapha. 

Abdul Hamid, quoted by the Star and New Straits Times newspapers, also said police had identified several local people with links to the kidnappers and would arrest them soon. He declined to give a number but said they are relatives of Abu Sayyaf gang members, who seized nine Malaysians and 12 others from the Sipadan island dive resort. "The rebels have people on our side which made it easier to execute their plans," the New Straits Times quoted Abdul Hamid as saying. With reports from Donna S. Cueto