KL, Finland consider aid for RP rebels

KL, Finland consider aid for RP rebels

JOLO, Philippines (AFP): Finland and Malaysia are considering
aid projects in the southern Philippines to coax Muslim
extremists to free more than a dozen hostages held for over three
months, officials said on Monday.

Chief hostage negotiator, Roberto Aventajado, said Malaysian
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had tapped two senior officials
to meet with him to firm up an aid package for areas controlled
by the Abu Sayyaf in southern Jolo island.

Aventajado said he was expected to discuss with former Sabah
chief minister Yong Teck Lee and Malaysian deputy education
minister Datu Abdul Azziz Shamsuddin "livelihood" projects.

These could include setting up of mango, coffee and orange
plantations in Talipao town, where the 17 hostages are being held
in a jungle lair.

The Malaysian envoys were originally set to arrive on Monday,
but failed to secure landing rights from aviation officials in
Zamboanga city, where Aventajado's aides were waiting, sources
close to the negotiations said.

Aventajado earlier said he called Mahathir on Sunday after Abu
Sayyaf gunmen delayed the scheduled release of three Malaysians.
Mahathir then ordered his envoys to fly to Zamboanga, he said.

"There are certain deals on the table. If there is an
agreement, Commander Robot has committed to start releasing
hostages the following day," Aventajado said.
"Commander Robot" is the popular name for Galib Andang, leader of
an Abu Sayyaf band based in Talipao.

The rebels still hold 14 of the original 21 hostages they
abducted from the dive resort of Sipadan, controlled by Malaysia,
on April 23. They include three Malaysians, two Filipinos, two
French and a Franco-Lebanese citizen, two Finns, two Germans and
two South Africans. The Abu Sayyaf guerrillas are also holding
three French television journalists kidnapped as they were
covering the crisis.

Six Malaysians and an ailing German woman from among the
original group have been freed, as well as a German reporter and
two Filipino journalists abducted later.

Finland has also expressed interest in financing similar
"livelihood" projects, but said it would only do so if asked by
the Philippine government, according to a report in the respected
daily Hensingin Samonat in Helsinki.