Sayyaf commander, sugatan o patay?

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 16, 2009) – Posibleng napatay o kaya’y sugatan ang isang Abu Sayyaf commander na may bihag sa tatlong Red Cross staff sa lalawigan ng Sulu.

Nagkaroon umano ng sagupaan kanina sa kabundukan ng bayan ng Indanan na kung saan ay hawak ng Abu Sayyaf sina Swiss national Andreas Notterm, Italian Eugenio Vagni at ang Pinay na si Mary Jean Lacaba mula pa nuong Enero 15.

Ang tatlo ay pawang mga staff ng International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at dinukot ang mga ito sa bayan ng Patikul matapos na bumisita sa isang bilanguan upang tignan ang ilang proyekto doon.

Sa intelligence report ng militar ay pilit umanong tumatakas si Albader Parad mula sa cordon ng militar at pulisya sa kabundukan ng ito’y birahin ng mga snipers. Isa pang kasamahan na nagtangkang tulungan si Parad ang tinira rin ng militar.

Hindi naman sinasagot ni Western Mindanao military chief Gen. Nelson Allaga ang tawag sa kanyang cellphone upang makunan ng pahayag kung tutuong sugatan o kaya’y napatay na si Parad.

Ilang ulit na kasing ibinabalita ng militar na maramin na itong napapatay na mga commander ng Abu Sayyaf, ngunit kalimitan sa mga ito ay false report.

Sinabi naman ni Alain Aeschlimann, ang ICRC's head of operations for East Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific, na patuloy itong nakikipagtulungan sa mga awtoridad upang masigurong ligtas sa kapahamakan ang mga bihag.

“We are doing everything we can to obtain the safe and swift release of our staff. It's frustrating for everyone, especially our three kidnapped colleagues and their families, that this has gone on for so long. We would very much like to see some rapid and meaningful progress towards resolving this crisis.”

“There are a lot of different people within and outside the ICRC, who are working to make this happen. We're counting on everyone involved to do their utmost to ensure the safe and unconditional release of Mary Jean, Andreas and Eugenio. Their wellbeing must come first and no action should be undertaken that would put their lives in danger. We reiterate our appeal to the kidnappers to let them go,” ani Aeschlimann.

Napabalitang humihingi ng $10 milyon ransom ang teroristang Abu Sayyaf kapalit ng mga bihag. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sayyaf rejects gov't attempt to free Red Cross hostages

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)

Don't risk self, Moro rebels tell Filipino actor who wants to negotiate with Sayyaf to free Red Cross staff

Three kidnapped Red Cross workers Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba pose with Sulu deputy governor Nur Anna Sahidulla on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 in the hinterland of Indanan town. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Nickee Butlangan)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 29, 2009) – Moro rebels have dissuaded a Filipino movie star from negotiating with Abu Sayyaf militants holding hostage three members of the Red Cross in the southern island of Sulu.

This after Robin Padilla, who converted to Islam, was reported to be helping in the negotiation for the safe release of Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba.

“This is an unsolicited advice, but we are offering this as a sign of our concern to you and to protect the image of Islam and the Muslims now defiled by most or all of the current leaders of the Abu Sayyaf Group,” said Muhammad Ameen, a senior leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group.

Ameen said: “The kidnappers have only one thing in mind and that is money and they don’t discriminate whether you are their co-religionists or not, as long as you have the capacity to pay ransom.”

Padilla, who was in Zamboanga City on Wednesday, previously negotiated with the Abu Sayyaf for the release of several students and teachers kidnapped in 2000 in Basilan Island.

Nur Misuari, head of the Moro National Liberation Front rebel group which signed a peace treaty with Manila in 1996, also offered to help in the negotiations to free the Abu Sayyaf.

The three aid workers were kidnapped January 15 after inspecting a humanitarian project at a prison facility in the town of Patikul. Police linked a dismissed jail guard, Raden Abu, to the kidnapping, and said he handed over the hostages to the Abu Sayyaf headed by Albader Parad and Abu Pula.

On Wednesday, kidnappers allowed Sulu deputy governor Nur Anna Sahidulla to see and talk to the hostages on a hinterland village in Indanan town. The hostages said they are being treated fairly and were allowed by their captors to use their laptop and cell phones.

The hostages have also asked for books and personal grooming items that will be delivered by a contact, according to Filipino Senator Richard Gordon, who is the head of the Philippine National Red Cross.

Photographs of the meeting were also released to the media. They were taken from a mobile phone and showed Notter, Vagni and Lacaba posing with Sahidulla.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has confirmed the meeting, but declined to make any further details available regarding the location or how the contact was made in order not to jeopardize the safety of captives.

“It's a positive sign that this face-to-face contact took place,” said Alain Aeschlimann, the head of the ICRC's operations for Asia Pacific in Geneva. “According to Vice-Governor Sahidulla, they are fine and in good health.”

He said there has been regular phone contact between the Red Cross and the abducted staff since they were snatched. The latest call with the three took place on Wednesday morning.

”They continue to sound calm and composed and say they are doing alright,” said Aeschlimann. “We are always glad to be able to hear their voices and know they are together. Their loved ones are thinking about them all the time and trying to stay strong, while continuing to hope that Eugenio, Mary-Jean and Andreas will be home soon.”

Sulu Governor Sakur Tan maintained that the government will not pay ransom in exchange for the freedom of the captives. “We are firm with that policy. The government will not pay ransom to the kidnappers in exchange for the release of the aid workers,” he said.

Tan, head of the crisis committee, said the photos released to the media are proof that the negotiations are positively developing. "It shows that the task force is doing alright and that we are doing something on our level to address the problem," Tan said in a television interview on Thursday.

The ICRC said it is aware of other information circulating in the media regarding discussions with the kidnappers and efforts to try to resolve the situation.

“At this stage, the ICRC can only confirm that direct contact was established with the kidnappers. We are not in a position to comment or disclose any further information.”

“We appreciate everyone's understanding during this difficult time that we must be very cautious in what we say to avoid any risk of jeopardizing the safety and well-being of Mary-Jean, Andreas and Eugenio, or the possibility of achieving a positive outcome,” Aeschlimann said. (With a report from Nickee Butlangan)

Kidnapped Red Cross workers in the Philippines phone aid organization

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Al Jacinto / Jan. 27, 2009) – Three kidnapped Red Cross workers in the southern Philippines phoned the aid organization to say they were alright.
The trio – Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba – were seized at gunpoint on January 15 after visiting a prison facility in Patikul town in Sulu province.

“We have had contact by telephone with Mary-Jean, Eugenio and Andreas over the past 48 hours. They say that considering the circumstances, they are doing alright. Their voices sounded composed and calm and we hope that this is a positive sign. The ICRC reiterates its call for their rapid and unconditional release,” said Alain Aeschlimann, who heads the organization’s operations for Asia Pacific in Geneva.

Filipino authorities said a jail guard, Raden Abu, who was dismissed after 12 prisoners escaped early this month masterminded the kidnapping. Abu later handed over the three hostages to Abu Sayyaf militants who group has links with the Indonesian terrorist Jemaah Islamiya.

Security forces have sealed off a mountain in the town of where Abu Sayyaf militants are believed to be hiding with their captives. Local troops, aided by US military intelligence, have sealed off the area to prevent the Abu Sayyaf from escaping.

Police last week said the hostages were spotted in Talipao town, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf.

“We genuinely appreciate all efforts to bring our colleagues safely home and the concern of so many people inside and outside the ICRC for their welfare and we are grateful for their support.”

”However, we are concerned that any further public comments by us at this stage could complicate efforts to bring about the safe and rapid return of Marie-Jean, Eugenio and Andreas. I am sure both the media and the public understand this,” said Aeschlimann.
Aeschlimann last week also appealed to the kidnappers to free all the hostages.

“I appeal to those who are holding Mary-Jean, Andreas and Eugenio to let them go as quickly as possible,” Aeschlimann said. “We want to have them back safe and sound. Their children, spouses, parents, siblings and loved ones are anxious and waiting for them to come home.”

The ICRC said it has no direct contacts with the kidnappers and ruled out paying ransom in exchange for the safe release of the victims.

Authorities said the hostages are being held by Abu Sayyaf leaders Albader Parad and Abu Pula, who were both former Moro National Liberation Front rebels. (Mindanao Examiner)

Search for 3 kidnapped Red Cross staff in the Philippines enters second week

Governor Sakur joins a police patrol in the town of Jolo in the southern Filipino island of Sulu, where suspected Abu Sayyaf militants seized January 15, 2009 three aid workers - a Swiss national Andreas Notyter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba - who are working for the Internatioanl Commiittee of the Red Cross. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 22, 2009) – Filipino troops continue to search for three aid workers kidnapped in the southern island of Sulu as the rescue operation entered its second week with no signs of the hostages.

The three – Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba – are being held by Abu Sayyaf militants with links to the Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiya.

They were seized January 15 in Patikul town after inspecting a water and sanitation project a prison facility. A dismissed jail guard was also implicated in the kidnapping, police said, quoting reports from witnesses.

The International Committee of the Red Cross to which the victims are working for is calling for the unconditional release of the hostages.

“I appeal to those who are holding Mary-Jean, Andreas and Eugenio to let them go as quickly as possible,” Alain Aeschlimann, the ICRC's head of operations for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific in Geneva, said on Thursday. “We want to have them back safe and sound. Their children, spouses, parents, siblings and loved ones are anxious and waiting for them to come home.”The ICRC has been in contact with the three staff members several times since they were kidnapped and the last time the three were able to call was on January 19. ”We hope that we'll hear their voices again soon and that they remain unharmed,” Aeschlimann said. “We also continue to hope that this difficult situation will have a positive outcome.”

The ICRC said it has no direct contacts with the kidnappers and ruled out paying ransom in exchange for the safe release of the victims.

But Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, head of the local crisis task force, said the kidnappers were probably dictating the hostages on what to tell the ICRC. “The victims should not allow themselves become the mouthpiece of the kidnappers,” he said.

Tan said the Task Force-ICRC, composed of the military, police and provincial and national government agencies, are working hard to resolve the crisis soon.

“The task force is still strategizing its move to safely recover the innocent victims and to end this kidnapping incident soon. We cannot reveal tactical matters because this could jeopardize the whole efforts of the task force,” he said.

Tan also appealed to the media not to speculate or report false information about the kidnapping crisis. “Every false report adds to the burden of anxious families (of the hostages). We want to assure the families that we are doing everything to resolve this problem,” he said.

Foreign media, which quoted unnamed Filipino military officials, have reported last week the kidnappers demanded $5 million ransom, but the ICRC denied this.

“As far as I am aware, they are false rumors. We have not had any direct contact with the people who are holding Mary-Jean, Eugenio and Andreas. That said, the ICRC cannot just disregard rumors like this. We are doing our best to check on their possible accuracy through a range of contacts,” said Jean-Daniel Tauxe, ICRC’s head of delegation in Manila.

“This is obviously a high-profile case and there is a lot of media attention surrounding it. Sometimes, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. What we know for sure is that the three are alive, and we want their safe return. I am not in a position to comment further as I do not want to jeopardize our colleagues’ safety, nor do I want to speculate on rumors. That simply wouldn’t be helpful,” Tauxe said.

“In addition, in these times of instantaneous worldwide communication, we are very concerned about the effect that rumors, conveyed by media, may have on the families of our kidnapped colleagues. Because of the time difference, and the difficulty for the families living in other parts of the world to understand aspects of the incident relating specifically to the Philippines, our colleagues at Geneva headquarters are doing their best to protect the families from the incredible stress that rumors can unleash. Here in the Philippines we are trying to do the same thing for the family of our Filipina colleague,” he said.

Authorities said the hostages are being held by Abu Sayyaf leaders Albader Parad and Abu Pula, who were both former Moro National Liberation Front rebels. (Mindanao Examiner)