Indonesian escapes from RP rebel captors

Indonesian escapes from RP rebel captors

Agencies, Zamboanga, Philippines

One of four Indonesian crewmen kidnapped in southern Philippines
waters by suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels was recovered by the
villagers in the rebel stronghold of Jolo island but his
compatriots were still being held on Wednesday.

Second officer Ferdinan Joel, 35, was found by residents in a
village near the predominantly Muslim town of Luuk in Jolo island
and immediately turned over to authorities.

He was then flown by helicopter to the military southern
command in Zamboanga city for a debriefing and a medical checkup.
Looking haggard and wearing brown pants and a white shirt, the
Indonesian gave the thumbs up to journalists as he landed in
Zamboanga, where an ambulance whisked him away.

"I am happy now, I am safe, I am free," Ferdinan Yoel, 35,
told reporters as he recounted his dramatic dash to freedom.

He later said that he escaped by tricking his captors into
allowing him to urinate in the bushes on Tuesday night. He then
escaped and hid in trees to evade his captors.

He said he urged his companions to join him in the escape
plan, but they refused in fear of being caught.

Armed men aboard three motorboats seajacked the crewmen's
tugboat towing the Indonesian-flagged vessel Labroy 179 near the
southern island of Basilan, also a known stronghold of Muslim Abu
Sayaf rebels on Monday.

They then seized Joel, skipper Muntu Jacobus Winowatan, chief
officer Julkipli, and chief engineer Pieter Lerrech. Six other
crewmen were left behind and the vessel and tugboat were escorted
to a naval wharf in the southern port of Zamboanga earlier on
Wednesday.

"They did not take any money, they did not take valuables,"
Joel said through an interpreter, adding that he spent the night
perched on a tree to evade his captors. By early Wednesday
morning, he had managed to make his way to Luuk where villagers
turned him over to the military.

When presented with pictures of known Abu Sayyaf guerrillas,
Joel pointed to Hamsiradji Sali as the leader of the band that
intercepted their vessel off the coast of Tamuk island near the
rebel stronghold of Basilan island.

"This is the one," he said, pointing to the picture of Sali as
one of his captors.

Sali is among the five top Abu Sayyaf leaders for whom the
United States has offered up to US$5 million in rewards for any
information leading to their arrest.

President Gloria Arroyo said she was informed by the
military's southern command of the recovery of the hostage and
thanked the people of Luuk for turning the hostage over to
authorities.

"The people there are super. I really love them," Arroyo said.
Investigators earlier on Wednesday were interviewing the six
other crewmen left behind by the gunmen to establish whether the
case was one of piracy, a political kidnapping by Abu Sayyaf
guerrillas or other armed groups in the troubled southern
Philippines.

Meanwhile, Indonesian vice consul Johannes Manginsela, who is
based in the southern city of Davao, said his government was in
close coordination with Filipino authorities in trying to locate
the other victims.

However, he said Jakarta would not negotiate with the suspects
if they air any demands.

"We are not going to negotiate or bargain. We believe that the
Philippine security authorities can handle the peace in
Mindanao," Maginsela said, adding that an embassy staff has been
sent to the military's southern command to coordinate with the
military.

The kidnapping incident will not affect bilateral ties between
the two countries, Manginsela said. Some 10,000 Indonesians
scattered in the main southern island of Mindanao however have
been cautioned against associating with local Muslim groups which
could have links with Islamic militants.