Formal talks launched on release of RP hostages<\/p>\n
BANDANG, Philippines (AFP): Government negotiators and rebel
\nleaders Saturday held their first formal talks over the release
\nof 21 mostly foreign hostages being held by the Abu Sayyaf group.<\/p>\n
\"The negotiators and the (Abu Sayyaf) met for the formal
\nmeeting to secure the release of the 21 hostages and study the
\ndemands of the rebels,\" a close aide of top government negotiator
\nRoberto Aventajado told reporters.<\/p>\n
Four of the five Abu Sayyaf leaders expected to attend turned
\nup for the meeting. They smiled but refused to be photographed as
\nthey entered an elementary school where the talks are being held.<\/p>\n
Outside, scores of Abu Sayyaf guerrillas armed with rifles and
\nwearing ski masks milled around with journalists.<\/p>\n
The meeting is being held at Bandang village near the costal
\ntown of Talipao in southern Jolo island where the hostages have
\nbeen held since their abduction from Sipadan, near Malaysia, on
\nApril 23.<\/p>\n
The rebels fled to Talipao from Patikul with the hostages on
\nFriday, abruptly canceling a scheduled meeting with negotiators
\nafter reportedly being unnerved by a large military presence at
\nthe meeting venue.<\/p>\n
The Abu Sayyaf, who are fighting for an independent state in
\nthe southern Philippines, are holding nine Malaysians, a German
\nfamily of three, a French couple, two Finns, a South African
\ncouple, two Filipinos and a Lebanese.<\/p>\n
The military has been kept far away from the meeting Saturday,
\nand the venue is secured only by provincial police guards.<\/p>\n
President Joseph Estrada's special envoy Aventajado is leading
\nthe five-member panel of negotiators, comprising Sulu province
\ngovernor Abdusakur Tan, local peace advocate Farouq Hussein,
\nIslamic scholar Ghazali Ibrahim, and independent mediator and
\nformer Libyan envoy to the Philippines, Abdul Rajab Azzarouq.<\/p>\n
Leaders of the Abu Sayyaf at the talks including strongman
\nGalib Andang, better known as Commander Robot.<\/p>\n
The government and the kidnappers have had informal talks
\nthrough emissaries but formal negotiations have been delayed by
\nskirmishes, guerrilla demands for new government negotiators and
\na lack of coordination within the state negotiating panel.<\/p>\n
President Joseph Estrada is under pressure from foreign
\ngovernments to bring a quick resolution to the hostage crisis.
\nNegotiators have warned that any monetary demands by the Abu
\nSayyaf leaders could scupper the long-awaited talks.<\/p>\n
Officials have said they expect the negotiations will
\neventually boil down to the payment of a ransom.<\/p>\n
Two political demands by the rebels -- an independent Islamic
\nstate and the setting up of an international commission to
\nprotect Filipino Muslims in the neighboring Malaysian state of
\nSabah -- have been rejected.<\/p>\n
A breakthrough in the formal talks could lead to the release
\nof several ailing hostages, including German teacher Renate
\nWallert.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/formal-talks-launched-on-release-of-rp-hostages-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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