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June 10, 2000, The Philippine Star, Talks with Abu seen today; $1-M ransom demand confirmed, by Roel Pareño,

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June 10, 2000, The Philippine Star, Talks with Abu seen today; $1-M ransom demand confirmed, by Roel Pareño,

A resumption of formal talks with Abu Sayyaf terrorists holding 21 mostly foreign hostages in Sulu is expected today even as the government rejected a fresh demand by the captors. 

In related developments yesterday: 

* Government chief negotiator Roberto Aventajado stressed that no ransom will be paid for the release of the hostages. 
* An Abu Sayyaf leader confirmed earlier reports that they were asking for $1 million ransom for each of the captives. 
* The Malaysian government, apparently concerned over the slow pace of the negotaitons, is sending Foreign Minister Al Syed Hamid Albar to Manila on June 15 for talks on the hostage crisis. 

Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan who is a member of the government panel, said he has sent an emissary to verify reports Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot wanted three additional government negotiators in the talks. But another Abu Sayyaf leader, Mujib Susukan, told the emissary to simply ignore Andang's latest demand. 

"I told them they are so confusing. I told them it's only the President (Estrada) who appoints (negotiators). We will not consider that (new demand)," Tan said. Andang told reporters who accompanied a food convoy  to the Abu Sayyaf lair in the hinterlands of Talipao in Sulu they wanted a retired police general, a university professor and a third person to be included in the government panel. 

Last Thursday, Andang also proposed that Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadafy Janjalani and spokesman Abu Sabaya be involved in the talks. The current team headed by Presidential Adviser Roberto Aventajado consists of Tan, former Libyan ambassador Rajab Azzarouq, peace advocate Farouk Hussin and Islamic scholar Ibrahim Ghazali. 
Tan said he was optimistic formal talks would resume for the freedom for the nine Malaysians, three Germans, two South Africans, two French nationals, two Finns, two Filipinos and one Lebanese being held by the extremist rebels. 

The victims were snatched from a Malaysian diving resort off Sabah last April 23 and taken by boat across the sea border to the Sulu capital of Jolo. The two parties formally met only once, in a Muslim mosque in Talipao town last May 27. However, there were contacts through emissaries. The government panel gave in to the Abu Sayyaf's demands to ban large fishing vessels in waters around Jolo, but rejected two other conditions including the establishment of an independent Islamic state in Mindanao. 

Gov't panel rules out ransom 

"No, we do not pay ransom," Aventajado said in reaction to the Abu Sayyaf's ransom demand of $1 million each for the 21 hostages. He said the governments of the foreign hostages will also reject payment of any ransom. "They will not pay," Aventajado told The STAR. 

Asked if the military option is still open, Aventajado responded with the question; "You want us to pay P900 million?" A government emissary said earlier the kidnappers were asking for $1 million for each of the hostages, but the negotiators insisted there was no such demand. Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya confirmed that they were asking for $1 million ransom for each of the hostages to finance their armed struggle. 

The emissary said the ransom demand was a key factor that has been stalling the negotiations. Hussin said they will clarify with the Abu Sayyaf leaders the alleged ransom demand in their next formal meeting which may take place today. 

Previous Abu Sayyaf abductions invariably ended in the payment of ransom, euphemistically called "board and lodging" for the victims while in captivity. The slow pace of the negotiations has been bitterly criticized by  the hostages whose psychological state has deteriorated in recent weeks as their release remained uncertain. 

"In the past weeks, we have been better because, as you see, the conditions are a bit better, but mentally, it's been hard," Finnish hostage Risto Vahanen told visiting journalists. Meanwhile, Malacañang clarified that the President Estrada did not set June 12 as deadline for the government negotiators to resolve the hostage crisis in Mindanao. 

"It is not a deadline. Let me be very categorical and clear on that. The President did not impose any deadline on the negotiating panel," Press Undersecretary Mike Toledo said. He pointed out that negotiations of such nature could not be "time-bound." 

He clarified that Mr. Estrada merely wanted some substantive breakthroughs in the talks with the Abu Sayyaf by June 12. Meanwhile, doctors from Malaysia and Germany arrived in Jolo yesterday to treat the ailing captives. Horst Heydlauf, a specialist in tropical medicine sent by the German government, came by boat from Zamboanga City where he awaited clearance to visit the hostages. 

Two Malaysian physicians and two medical assistants also arrived by a military cargo plane which flew them from Kuala Lumpur via Kota Kinabalu. The mission from the Malaysian Red Crescent brought along 45 boxes of medicines, food and other supplies. 

Team leader Yahaya Abu Ahmad said his group expected to stay in Jolo for 14 days during which they planned to see the hostages at least three to four times. Meanwhile, sources at the Department of Foreign Affairs said Albar would call on Mr. Estrada and Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. Malaysians are to coordinate their visit to the Abu Sayyaf hideout with the Philippine National Red Cross and Sulu provincial health officer Dr. Nelsa Amin. -- Roel Pareño, wire services 

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