Indonesian escapes from RP rebel captors<\/p>\n
Agencies, Zamboanga, Philippines<\/p>\n
One of four Indonesian crewmen kidnapped in southern Philippines
\nwaters by suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels was recovered by the
\nvillagers in the rebel stronghold of Jolo island but his
\ncompatriots were still being held on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Second officer Ferdinan Joel, 35, was found by residents in a
\nvillage near the predominantly Muslim town of Luuk in Jolo island
\nand immediately turned over to authorities.<\/p>\n
He was then flown by helicopter to the military southern
\ncommand in Zamboanga city for a debriefing and a medical checkup.
\nLooking haggard and wearing brown pants and a white shirt, the
\nIndonesian gave the thumbs up to journalists as he landed in
\nZamboanga, where an ambulance whisked him away.<\/p>\n
\"I am happy now, I am safe, I am free,\" Ferdinan Yoel, 35,
\ntold reporters as he recounted his dramatic dash to freedom.<\/p>\n
He later said that he escaped by tricking his captors into
\nallowing him to urinate in the bushes on Tuesday night. He then
\nescaped and hid in trees to evade his captors.<\/p>\n
He said he urged his companions to join him in the escape
\nplan, but they refused in fear of being caught.<\/p>\n
Armed men aboard three motorboats seajacked the crewmen's
\ntugboat towing the Indonesian-flagged vessel Labroy 179 near the
\nsouthern island of Basilan, also a known stronghold of Muslim Abu
\nSayaf rebels on Monday.<\/p>\n
They then seized Joel, skipper Muntu Jacobus Winowatan, chief
\nofficer Julkipli, and chief engineer Pieter Lerrech. Six other
\ncrewmen were left behind and the vessel and tugboat were escorted
\nto a naval wharf in the southern port of Zamboanga earlier on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
\"They did not take any money, they did not take valuables,\"
\nJoel said through an interpreter, adding that he spent the night
\nperched on a tree to evade his captors. By early Wednesday
\nmorning, he had managed to make his way to Luuk where villagers
\nturned him over to the military.<\/p>\n
When presented with pictures of known Abu Sayyaf guerrillas,
\nJoel pointed to Hamsiradji Sali as the leader of the band that
\nintercepted their vessel off the coast of Tamuk island near the
\nrebel stronghold of Basilan island.<\/p>\n
\"This is the one,\" he said, pointing to the picture of Sali as
\none of his captors.<\/p>\n
Sali is among the five top Abu Sayyaf leaders for whom the
\nUnited States has offered up to US$5 million in rewards for any
\ninformation leading to their arrest.<\/p>\n
President Gloria Arroyo said she was informed by the
\nmilitary's southern command of the recovery of the hostage and
\nthanked the people of Luuk for turning the hostage over to
\nauthorities.<\/p>\n
\"The people there are super. I really love them,\" Arroyo said.
\nInvestigators earlier on Wednesday were interviewing the six
\nother crewmen left behind by the gunmen to establish whether the
\ncase was one of piracy, a political kidnapping by Abu Sayyaf
\nguerrillas or other armed groups in the troubled southern
\nPhilippines.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Indonesian vice consul Johannes Manginsela, who is
\nbased in the southern city of Davao, said his government was in
\nclose coordination with Filipino authorities in trying to locate
\nthe other victims.<\/p>\n
However, he said Jakarta would not negotiate with the suspects
\nif they air any demands.<\/p>\n
\"We are not going to negotiate or bargain. We believe that the
\nPhilippine security authorities can handle the peace in
\nMindanao,\" Maginsela said, adding that an embassy staff has been
\nsent to the military's southern command to coordinate with the
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
The kidnapping incident will not affect bilateral ties between
\nthe two countries, Manginsela said. Some 10,000 Indonesians
\nscattered in the main southern island of Mindanao however have
\nbeen cautioned against associating with local Muslim groups which
\ncould have links with Islamic militants.<\/p>",
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