ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 6, 2009) – Abu Sayyaf terrorists holding hostage three Red Cross workers in the southern Philippines rejected fresh government attempt to negotiate for the safe release of the trio.
Government negotiators led by Nur Misuari, chieftain of the former rebel group Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), was attempting to open up talks with the Abu Sayyaf to secure the freedom of the hostages.
The Abu Sayyaf led by Albader Parad, a former MNLF rebel, has previously demanded the pull out of troops in the jungle of Indanan town where they are holding Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba.
Parad was interviewed by phone on March 5 by a television network ABS-CBN and he said his group will not negotiate with Misuari and demanded the military to withdraw soldiers from Indanan town.
“They have sent ulama in the past and now Nur Misuari. We will not negotiate unless they pull out the military (in Indanan town),” Parad said.
Notter’s group was kidnapped January 15 after inspecting a water and sanitation project at a prison in Patikul town. Police tagged a dismissed jail guard, Raden Abu, as behind the kidnapping.
Abu handed the trio to the Abu Sayyaf, which reportedly demanded $10 million ransoms for the release of the hostages, who work for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The ICRC said it has not been in direct contact with any of the captives for the past two weeks, but heard Vagni speaking on the phone to a TV reporter.
Vagni said they are all weak because of the condition in the jungle.
“We are all very, very weak because we are living in a very difficult condition. We are here for 50 days (now and) if they can do their best to really do something to free us,” he said in the interview.
The ICRC said it is aware that Misuari went to Sulu to help in the negotiation.
“We hope this is a positive sign. We will not comment any further to avoid saying anything on our side that could jeopardize the safety of our colleagues or the chances of securing their rapid and unconditional release. The ICRC appreciates all genuine efforts from inside and outside the Red Cross to resolve this difficult situation,” said Alain Aeschlimann, the ICRC's head of operations for East Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific.
“We cannot but admire our colleagues' strength and resilience in dealing with this difficult situation. We believe that their health is stable, even though they are suffering from fatigue and stress,” he said.
Manila said it will not pull out troops in Indanan town and demanded the Abu Sayyaf to free the innocent hostages. (Mindanao Examiner)
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