RI not helping search for hostages: RP<\/p>\n
PHILIPPINES: Indonesian officials are not working with the
\nPhilippine military in the hunt for three Indonesian seamen
\nkidnapped by suspected Al-Qaeda-linked militants, a top
\nPhilippine army officer said in Jolo on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"We have not received any reports from the Indonesian
\nconsulate.... They are not coordinating with us, but this does
\nnot stop us from our operation to safely recover the hostages,\"
\nsaid Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza.<\/p>\n
The three Indonesians -- Ahmad Resmiyadi, Yamin Labaso and
\nErikson Hutagaol -- were seized in March after their boat was
\nattacked off Malaysia's Sabah region by a group calling itself
\nthe Jamiat al-Islamiah of Southern Mindanao.<\/p>\n
They were thought to be held somewhere in the southern
\nPhilippine province of Tawi Tawi, and police and military
\nofficials now believe they were seized by the Abu Sayyaf kidnap
\ngang.<\/p>\n
\"We are doing everything to trace their whereabouts. We have
\nrecovered one speedboat of the Abu Sayyaf and several weapons --
\nthat's the latest we have on the operation against the
\nkidnappers,\" Braganza said.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono asked Philippine President Gloria Arroyo for help in
\nrescuing the three hostages, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Hassan also said the captors had demanded a Rp 7.5 billion
\n(US$790,000) ransom from the hostages' employer. -- AFP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-not-helping-search-for-hostages-rp-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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