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.