SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 20, 2009) – Abu Sayyaf terrorists holding hostage three Red Cross workers remain defiant and rejected government demands to free all the hostages without ransom in the island of Sulu, south of the Philippines.
The Abu Sayyaf is holding Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba since January 15 in the hinterlands of Indanan town.
Albader Parad, one of several terrorist leaders holding the trio, demanded the pull out of government troops that have surrounded their lair. Parad, a former Moro National Liberation Front rebel, said they will not negotiate with the government unless the military pulls out thousands of soldiers in the town.
The governor of Sulu, Sakur Tan, who heads the task force negotiating for the safe release of the hostages, rejected the terrorists demand and said the hostages must be freed without any condition.
“We will not allow terrorists to dictate upon the government. The terrorists should free all the hostages without any conditions,” he said.
The International Committee of the Red Cross the hostages made contact with the aid agency this week.
Alain Aeschlimann, the ICRC's head of operations for East Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific, said the hostages claimed they are doing okay, despite the difficult conditions in which they are living.
“We were very relieved to hear that they remain unharmed and are still together. Over the past five weeks, we've spoken to them many times and we are always grateful to hear their voices.”
”We're doing everything we can to find a positive outcome to this situation as quickly as possible. We continue to call for the swift and safe release of Eugenio, Mary Jean and Andreas and we remain hopeful that they will soon be home with their families,” he said.
Aeschlimann said the safety of the hostages is important.
“It is paramount that they should remain out of harm's way and that any efforts to free them should in no way endanger their safety. There are many people who are working very hard to resolve this situation and we appreciate these efforts.”
“My colleagues in the Philippines are obviously deeply affected by this situation. They hope, as we all do at the ICRC, that Mary Jean, Andreas and Eugenio are safe and that they know how much they are missed.”
Nur Misuari, chieftain of the MNLF, also volunteered to negotiate for the release of the hostages, but the Abu Sayyaf showed no interest in talking with the former rebel leader.
Misuari previously was asking for government permission to negotiate with the Abu Sayyaf after a mayor in Sulu, Isnaji Alvarez, of Indanan town, was charged last year with kidnapping when he helped negotiate the release of television reporter Ces Drilon and her two cameramen, including their guide. Drilon was held by the Abu Sayyaf whom they sought to interview clandestinely in Sulu Island.
They were freed weeks later after private negotiators allegedly paid P20 million ransom.
It was unknown whether the Abu Sayyaf is willing to negotiate with Misuari.But the terrorist group previously rejected Misuari, who was tapped in 2001 by Manila to negotiate for the release of 21 Asian and European holidaymakers kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf from the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan and brought by boat to Sulu.
The Abu Sayyaf freed the Sipadan hostages after the government allegedly allowed the payment of $20 million ransoms by Libyan negotiators.
The Abu Sayyaf holding the Red Cross workers was reportedly demanding $10 million ransom. (Mindanao Examiner)
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