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August 22, 2000, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Libya to pay $12M more,

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August 22, 2000, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Libya to pay $12M more


THE LIBYAN foundation mediating the release of a dozen Western hostages in Sulu has begrudgingly agreed to raise an extra $12 million in exchange for the Caucasians' freedom, but has asked Malacañang for "three days" to come up with the ransom, a senior Palace official told the INQUIRER. 

The Gadhafi International Association for Charitable Organization, headed by Moammar Gadhafi's son Seif al-Islam, agreed on Saturday to the Abu Sayyaf demand for the extra millions after the kidnappers reneged on a deal to free all the captives, the official said. Seif al-Islam is in the Philippines with other officials of his group in an attempt to broker an agreement between Filipino negotiators and the hostage takers. 

The Gadhafi charity organization had earlier dropped an ultimatum demanding tangible progress from the Estrada administration by last night, saying that other foreign governments had asked it to continue with its involvement in negotiations. Government sources in Manila said the group was buying time to raise the new ransom. 

Other government sources told a wire agency that the kidnappers had insisted on $18 million--a million for each of the remaining nine Westerners abducted from Sipadan resort in Malaysia in April, and $3 million for each of three French journalists captured later. "The Libyan mediators brought only about $4 million with them, leading (Abu Sayyaf commanders) Galib Andang and Mujib Susukan to accuse Azzarouq of not fulfilling his promise," one source told Agence France Presse. "It was not clear what the promise was," he added. 

The outcome of a private meeting Sunday night between President Estrada and chief negotiator Robert Aventajado on the next step in the four-month hostage crisis was relayed to Libya and a reply was expected last night, an Aventajado aide said. Mr. Estrada's decision will be announced after Libya gives its response, negotiators told the Associated Press. The President and Aventajado kept away from the media glare and met secretly after publicly saying they would hold talks on Monday, the aide said. 

Yesterday morning, Aventajado briefed Libyan negotiator Rajab Azzarouq on the results of the meeting, he said. Azzarouq passed on the details to officials in Tripoli and was supposed to inform Aventajado later on their reply, he said. Aventajado said he spoke with the President by telephone several times Sunday night and Monday morning. "We've been burning the wires," he said. 

'Libya not in charge' 

In a press briefing, he assured reporters that Libya was not dictating the terms in the negotiations, adding that the Libyans are helping "with the government's permission." "There are so many elements involved here. As chief negotiator, I am the one in command of the entire operation but there are certain minor details that I leave with Ambassador Azzarouq to discuss with" Andang, Aventajado said, without elaborating. 

Aventajado said the government would not drop its demand that all 28 remaining hostages be released in one go since the Abu Sayyaf was open to the "all-or-nothing" policy. Andang "said that (the government condition) is acceptable to him, so why are we going to change that policy?" Aventajado told reporters. 

Libya drops ultimatum 

The negotiator, who yesterday sent an emissary identified only as "Dragon" into the jungles of Jolo for face-to-face talks with the Abu Sayyaf, said ransoms were not discussed when he spoke to Andang, aka Commander Robot, on Sunday. "When I talk with Commander Robot on the cell phone, we do not discuss the details. There is an offer of development projects on the table, the mechanics of which he is discussing with Dragon," said the chief negotiator. 

Show goes on 

"Considering that (our) withdrawal will affect the negotiations, and for humanitarian circumstances, this organization has decided to continue its efforts to help in liberating the hostages," the organization said in a statement released late Sunday in Tripoli (yesterday in Manila). The statement said it made its decision after "governments of the hostages' countries contacted the association and appealed for it to continue its efforts to resolve the crisis."

The Libyan group, which is bankrolling a "development-aid" deal for the release of the captives, said it "refuses to pay a ransom for the hostages and promises to continue its efforts in order to find a quick solution to the crisis."

On Saturday, the organization threatened to end its mediation and withdraw its negotiators if Manila made no tangible progress in 48 hours in resolving a stalemate in the negotiations. 

Pressure 

Sunday's announcement followed a statement by Libyan Foreign Minister Abdel Rahman Shalgham that his country was still trying to free the captives. ''There are European pressures on both sides,'' Shalgham said. ''Despite the difficulties, our efforts will continue. There are also Finnish, German and French efforts, and all these governments are in touch with each other.'' 

''We are trying to avoid any escalation that might endanger the life of the hostages,'' he said. He said Germany's ambassador to Tripoli called him earlier Sunday to express his support for the Libyan efforts. Shalgham also denied reports that Libya had paid a $25-million ransom to the Abu Sayyaf. ''We give aid to the Muslims in (Mindanao) but we do not believe in paying ransom because this is trade in the lives of people. We reject this completely.'' 

The remaining hostages--six French, two Finns, two Germans, two South Africans and at least 15 Filipinos--were expected to be released Saturday. The rebels, fearing their government might launch an attack after the handover, backed off from the deal and refused to free them all at once. "The mediation ran into trouble mainly because of mistrust between the kidnappers and the government in the Philippines," Shalgham said. He said the suspicions on both sides should be removed and concentration should be on the "humanitarian side." 

'Annoying' 

Germany, France and Finland are extremely ''disappointed'' over the Philippines' handling of the hostage crisis. Envoys from the three European countries expressed their frustration in separate phone interviews yesterday. "We're disappointed. This whole thing is annoying. It could have been better handled," said Christian Germann, deputy chief of mission of the German Embassy in Manila. 

"Among Germans, there's a feeling of depression. It's been four months (since their abduction). We feel sorry for the hostages," he added. An official of the French Embassy expressed the same sentiments but stressed his government had not lost confidence in the Philippine negotiating panel. "We still hope this will come to a happy end," said the official, who asked not to be named. 

A special envoy of Finnish Foreign Minister Errki Tuomioja had flown to Zamboanga City over the weekend expecting the release of two of his countrymen. "I think we have nothing much to say except that we were very, very disappointed," said Ambassador Kimmo Pulkkinen. With reports from Inquirer wires; Philip Tubeza and Dona Pazzibugan 

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