April 6, 2002, The Philippine Star, Philippines: Abu Sayyaf gives Manila "last chance" to negotiate,

April 6, 2002, The Philippine Star, Philippines: Abu Sayyaf gives Manila "last chance" to negotiate,

Zamboanga City: Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels gave the government yesterday [5 April] a last chance to negotiate for the release of two kidnapped Americans and a Filipino nurse held for 10 months in the jungles of Basilan.

An Abu Sayyaf spokesman said they wanted to open talks for the release of missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and nurse Deborah Yap, remnants of a kidnapping spree by the rebels last year.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo predicted yesterday the inevitable destruction of the Abu Sayyaf and expressed as her birthday wish the safe rescue of the Burnhams and Yap. The president cited the greatly improved intelligence gathering capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) through the technical and material assistance extended by US forces involved in an ongoing joint military training exercise in Basilan and nearby Zamboanga City. "The indications are sooner than later, we shall really completely annihilate the Abu Sayyaf group," Mrs Arroyo said. "And once we annihilate them, that includes also the safe rescue of their three hostages."

The Abu Sayyaf spokesman, who identified himself as Abu Sulaiman, said the group would hold negotiations only if the Philippine military vice-chief of staff and one-time head of the Armed Forces Southern Command, Lt-Gen Gregorio Camiling, served as a go-between. "This offer, perhaps the last one, should be an opportunity for the government to resolve this problem. If only for humanitarian reasons, we are more than willing to give another chance to resolve this difficult situation," Abu Sulaiman told Radio Mindanao Network.

He did not mention any ransom, but said since the government opened peace negotiations with other Muslim rebel groups, they should open talks with the Abu Sayyaf as well.

The Philippine and US governments have ruled out negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf, which they have termed as a terrorist group, and instead called for the unconditional release of the hostages. The kidnappers are being hunted by 5,000 Philippine troops in the jungles of Basilan island, backed by US troops taking part in joint exercises in the south. Both Manila and Washington have linked the Abu Sayyaf with the Al-Qa'idah network of Usamah Bin-Ladin, the suspected mastermind of the 11 September attacks in the United States.

Sulaiman denied allegations that the Abu Sayyaf remitted ransom money raised in previous kidnappings to Al-Qa'idah, saying such reports were a "terrorist plot" by "Uncle Sam". However, he said "if we have the means, we will help our helpless brothers in Palestine."