Kidnapped seamen seek Gus Dur's help

Kidnapped seamen seek Gus Dur's help

JAKARTA: Relatives of three Indonesian seamen, who are
currently be held by a rebel group in the Philippines, asked
former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid on Friday to help
seek their release.

Samsudin Abdurahman, a brother of Yamin Labuso -- one of the
abducted seamen, urged Gus Dur to communicate with the Moro group
in the southern Philippines.

In response, Gus Dur, known for his good rapport with a wide
range of international Muslim groups, said he would help the
victims, while adding that he did indeed have contact with the
Moro group.

Yamin and two other seamen, Ahmad Resmiadi and Erikson
Hutagaol, were kidnapped on March 1, while fishing aboard a
Malaysian-flagged boat in the Celebes Sea.

The abductors have demanded 3 million ringgit from the
Malaysian government and 100,000 pesos and a camera from the
Indonesian government. --Antara