July 15, 2000, Philippine Star, 2nd Malaysian freed; Almeda seriously ill and bedridden,

July 15, 2000, Philippine Star, 2nd Malaysian freed; Almeda seriously ill and bedridden,

Abu Sayyaf rebels have released a Malaysian, the second foreign hostage to be freed from the extremist group's jungle lair in Jolo, Sulu since the Sipadan resort kidnapping in April. As this developed, the rebels threatened to behead ailing Jesus Miracle Crusade leader Wilde Almeda, who is being held with 38 other hostages on the island, a Muslim priest said yesterday.

The freed hostage was identified as Abdul Juwan bin Sulawat, a corporal of the Malaysian police. The 38-year-old foreigner was sneaked out of the island by speedboat and handed over to authorities in Basilan early yesterday morning.

"I am feeling well. Thank God for my release," Juwan said in Malaysian. Chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado told reporters in Zamboanga City that Juwan will be presented this morning to Malaysian Ambassador Mohammad Arshad bin Manzoor Hussein.

"He is in my hands," said businessman Dee Ping Wee, a former presidential adviser who is helping broker the release of the hostages. No further details were provided, although Aventajado said there was a promise made to provice Abu Sayyaf rebels livelihood asssitance in Talipao town in Sulu.

Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, a member of the government negotiating panel, called the release "a very good sign that negotiations for the others will succeed." Abdul Juwan is the second Malaysian to be freed by the extremist rebels, following the release of forest ranger Zulkarnain bin Hashim last month.

The release came a day after three European foreign ministers arrived in the country to urge President Estrada not to use force in freeing the hostages. Abu Sayyaf rebels are now holding a total of 39 people, including 21 foreigners.

"It is of utmost importance that there be no use of force," German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer told reporters. Fischer said he was thankful for assurances from Mr. Estrada and other officials that "there will be a peaceful, sound, and we hope quick release of all hostages."

"They know what we expect," added French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine. The hostages now consist of five French, four Germans, two Finns, two South Africans, a Lebanese, seven Malaysians and 18 Filipinos. All but a German journalist are believed to be held by the Abu Sayyaf rebels.

Finnish Foreign Minister Errki Tuomioja released yesterday a letter written by one of the hostages, Finn Risto Vahanen, appealing for their release. Aventajado said the foreign ministers appeared to be satisfied with the Philippine government's explanation of its attempts to resolve the hostage crisis, although they expressed "a little bit of impatience."

Aventajado suspended formal negotiations with Abu Sayyaf leaders more than one month ago after the rebels began escalating their demands. Officials earlier said a top rebel leader, Galib Andang, also known as Commander Robot, offered to drop all his previous political demands for the release of the hostages, including the creation of an independent Islamic state in Mindanao, if about $1 million in ransom is paid for each of the hostages.

The European foreign ministers said they were bound by an international agreement not to pay any ransom. The Abu Sayyaf abducted an original group of 21 hostages from a Malaysian diving resort on April 23. The rebels then held 13 Christian preachers of the Jesus Miracle Crusade on July 1 and three French journalists who went there last Sunday to interview the original hostages. They are also holding three Filipinos kidnapped from nearby Basilan island. They are likewise being blamed for the detention of a German correspondent of Der Spiegel magazine, but have denied involvement in that incident.

Captors threaten to harm preachers 

A Muslim priest said yesterday he has talked to some Abu Sayyaf rebels who told him they wanted to execute all the Jesus Miracle Crusade members because they refused to obey orders to remain silent and stop preaching. The priest, who asked not to be identified, was one of a pair of Islamic clerics who accompanied two government negotiators to a meeting with rebel leaders in their hideout Thursday.

He said he was only able to see a few members of the 13 preachers and not the rest of the foreign and local hostages being detained by the Abu Sayyaf. The Muslim priest said Almeda, the leader of the Catholic preachers, "is seriously ill and bedridden."

"He is covered with blankets and suffering from fever and chills," he said. About 70 heavily-armed Abu Sayyaf fighters, many of them still in their teens, were guarding the group, the priest said. The Muslim cleric said that despite his illness, Almeda and four of his followers were continuing to fast and pray in the hope of forcing the rebels to free the hostages.

Aventajado announced yesterday a revamp of the negotiating process with the Abu Sayyaf, saying there would be only one go-between in negotiations involving him and Andang, who proposed the change this week. Aventajado did not identify the newest mediator, who is expected to reach the rebel hideout today.

The appointment of the go-between marked the fourth revamp of the government negotiating panel since the hostage drama began. A former Muslim rebel chief and a local Muslim cleric headed previous government teams but they failed to make progress in the talks with the kidnappers.

At the moment, Aventajado heads a four-member negotiating panel which includes Libyan mediator Rajab Azzarouq, local peace advocate Farouk Hussein and Sulu Gov. Tan, whose province covers Jolo island.

Asked how the new setup would affect the other negotiators, including Azzarouq and Farouk who are already in Jolo, Aventajado said "they have to give way for the moment for this new arrangement which Commander Robot himself has requested us to do."

The change was made after Andang called Aventajado directly on Thursday, using a satellite telephone seized from three French TV journalists whom he detained last weekend when they went to the Abu Sayyaf hideout seeking an interview.

Aventajado said he asked Andang about his meeting Thursday with Azzarouq and Farouk but quoted Andang as telling him, "we still insist we use this go-between that I suggested to you as the sole link between you and me."

Andang complained about the numerous emissaries who had been going up to the rebel camp, presenting themselves as acting on the behalf of the negotiators. "According to Commander Robot, there have been so many emissaries who have gone to them and it is already confusing him, so he said let's just use this one go-between so that we know what we are getting is what you are saying," Aventajado said.

Asked by reporters if this development made him optimistic for the hostages' release, Aventajado said: "I think so because this idea of having a go- between is Commander Robot's idea. He himself told me that he already wants this hostage crisis resolved as soon as possible." -- By Roel Pareño, with reports from AP, AFP, Persueus Echeminada, Aurea Calica