August 25, 2000, BusinessWorld, Foreign leaders ask Erap to settle Abu Sayyaf hostage situation soon,

August 25, 2000, BusinessWorld, Foreign leaders ask Erap to settle Abu Sayyaf hostage situation soon,

ZAMBOANGA CITY (via PLDT) -- The leaders of Finland, France and Germany are cautioning the Philippines against using military force to put an end to the four-month-old hostage drama on Jolo island. In a letter to President Joseph Estrada dated August 22, Finnish President Tarja Halonen, French President Jacques Chirac, and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder also expressed concern over delays in the release of their nationals hostaged by Moro rebels.

"We use this opportunity to underline our firm view that the safe and early release of the hostages is the first priority. Their release must not be jeopardized by any action or any announcements the abductors on the island of Jolo could perceive as the reason not to implement a negotiated solution to this drama," the three heads of state wrote.

"The safety of the hostages may not be undermined by any use of force. For this we deeply appreciate your full personal support as well as that of the Philippine authorities," they added. Moro rebels belonging to the Abu Sayyaf, one of two groups fighting for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao, abducted foreign tourists from the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan on April 23.

The tourists, including Finnish, French and German nationals, were then brought to Jolo island where they have been held as hostages in the last four months. In reaction to the leaders' letter, Press Secretary Ricardo V. Puno, Jr. told reporters here that military force is not an option to ending the hostage situation. He also said he is optimistic current negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf for the hostages' release will yield positive results.

"As I have emphasized before, this (military) option is not being considered by the Philippine government at this time," Mr. Puno told a press briefing aboard the presidential yacht docked at a military compound here. He also said presidential adviser Robert N. Aventajado, the chief government negotiator talking to the Abu Sayyaf, skipped the Cabinet meeting on the presidential yacht to coordinate with Abu Sayyaf leaders and Libyan envoy Rajab Azzarouq on the hostages.

"Mr. Aventajado is not here because he continuous to work on the hostage situation. We're still optimistic that there maybe a positive response soon," Mr. Puno said. Meanwhile, in their letter, Messrs. Halonen, Chirac and Schroeder also asked Manila to continue its "cooperation" with Libya in getting the hostages released.

"We are confident that the negotiators will finalize the negotiating process and achieve the release of all hostages without further delay," they said. "In this context we are grateful for Libyan assistance and we trust the good cooperation bet your representatives and the Libyan negotiators," they added. The three world leaders also said they are "deeply concerned that the envisaged release of the hostages failed" about a week ago.

The Abu Sayyaf was supposed to release the hostages on Jolo last Saturday but eventually called it off. Mr. Puno said Malacañang does not view the letter as a form of meddling. "No, this is not at all meddling. It's a reiteration of something we've said in the past... This was just an expression of concern of possible utilization of the military option," Mr. Puno said.

In response to the letter, Mr. Estrada "has made it very clear that we will continue our full efforts to try to obtain the release of the hostages by using peaceful methods," Mr. Puno said. "There will be no military option exercised now. It is not being thought of or discussed at any level of the government," he added. He also said the Philippines, for now, will not ask the help of the United States to end the hostage situation.

During the Cabinet meeting, the Abu Sayyaf was assessed as a threat, but not to overall security, he added. Aside from the Cabinet meet, Mr. Estrada also presided over an Economic Coordinating Council meeting aboard the presidential yacht and a briefing by military officials at the Armed Forces Southern Command headquarters here. The President is scheduled to fly to Buug, Zamboanga del Sur this morning to meet with local officials and inspect government projects He will fly back to Zamboanga City in the afternoon for a press conference and then a flight for Manila. -- Leotes Marie T. Lugo