June 20, 2000, The Philippine Star, 'Abu Sayyaf hostage crisis may last four more months', by Marichu Villanueva,

June 20, 2000, The Philippine Star, 'Abu Sayyaf hostage crisis may last four more months', by Marichu Villanueva, 

Four more months in hell. The 21 mostly foreign hostages who have been held by the Abu Sayyaf extremists in Jolo for two months running may have to wait much longer for their release. Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said this yesterday as he warned officials of six countries yesterday not to resort to paying ransom to secure the release of their citizens from the Muslim terrorists. 

Zamora said the government is hoping to restart negotiations with the terrorists this week after it suspended talks a week ago due to the kidnappers' "impossible demands." "We are hopeful that we can speed things up, although right from the beginning we have told them (other countries) that we are looking at three to six months," he said. 

Germany and Malaysia have pressed for a swift resolution of the hostage crisis which began on April 23 when Abu Sayyaf gunmen seized their captives from the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan and brought them to Jolo. 

A German newspaper reported that Berlin is readying aid equivalent to a ransom in the form of technical support for infrastructure projects in Jolo where the hostages are being kept. A German family of three is among the hostages. 

Malaysia, for its part, has urged the Philippines to explore "exceptional ways" of dealing with the problem. Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, who visited Manila last week, suggested that the Philippine government relax its no-ransom policy. 

But Zamora said the suggestion would only make matters worse. "We would all end up the loser," he stressed. Zamora said officials from Finland, France, Germany, Lebanon, Malaysia and South Africa need to be aware of the danger of resorting to ransom for the release of the hostages. "If we reduce the problem to a sum of money, at some future date they (the rebels) would just resort to new kidnappings," he said. He confirmed that the rebel group has demanded a ransom for its hostages whom it abducted in the Sipadan resort island nearly two months ago. 

"You may have heard that they are asking for one million dollars per hostage. It is true. That is what they are asking," he said. The hostages, who also include two Filipinos and nine Malaysians, were snatched on April 23. Their abductors have sought $21 million and made several political demands, including an independent Muslim state in Mindanao. 

Supplies cut 

Meanwhile, government authorities halted food supplies to the rebels holding 21 hostages in desperate jungle conditions to force the kidnappers to reveal the whereabouts of 10 Caucasian captives who have been unseen for 17 days. 

The Abu Sayyaf moved three Germans, two Finns, two French nationals, two South Africans and a Lebanese to an undisclosed place earlier this month to deter the military's rescue attempt. The extremist group has since requested food supplies for the hostages, saying the foreigners were running out of provisions. 

Emissaries from other countries, however, have been ordered to suspend deliveries until the location of the Western hostages is determined. During the break in the negotiations, the Abu Sayyaf quietly released five Filipino children whom it abducted on the nearby island of Basilan three months ago. Press Secretary Ricardo Puno said the government did not pay a single centavo to the Abu Sayyaf for the release of the five children. 

Government negotiators, meanwhile, said that the "humanitarian corridor" to the Abu Sayyaf camp remains open for medical missions. Chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado said that though the food ration has been stopped, a group of doctors composed of a German, a Finn and a French national, was preparing to go up the Abu Sayyaf camp to check on the medical condition of the hostages. 

The Western hostages last received medical attention on June 2 while the Asians were last treated by Malaysian Red Crescent Society volunteers on June 10. "The humanitarian corridor is open," Aventajado said, adding that the German physician and Finish psychiatrist were just waiting for the arrival of the French doctor before visiting the rebel camp. 

"The European physicians want to go there at the same time," Aventajado said. Aventajado appealed to the kidnap leaders to make up their mind on what they really want in exchange for the hostages. Last Sunday, two of Abu Sayyaf's five leaders issued a signed statement accusing the Philippine government of ignoring their demands for a separate Muslim state and a human rights commission to investigate the alleged abuse of Filipinos in the Malaysian state of Sabah. 

Abu Jumdail and Nadjmi Sabdullah accused President Estrada's government of reducing the crisis to one "merely grounded on monetary considerations." "I am appealing to them to discuss among themselves what it is they really want so as to facilitate the negotiations," Aventajado said. -- With reports from AFP, Reuters