RP blames Libya-Abu Sayyaf row for hostage talks collpase
RP blames Libya-Abu Sayyaf row for hostage talks collpase
MANILA (AFP): The Philippines on Monday blamed a row between a
top Libyan negotiator and the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas for the
Muslim extremists' refusal to release 28 hostages, as indications
emerged of a dispute over ransom money.
Chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado, who has opposed
paying a ransom to end the four-month crisis, said the dispute
between Libyan Rajab Azzarouq and Abu Sayyaf leader Galib
"Commander Robot" Andang was over something "I would rather not
be privy about."
The finger pointing came at a press conference called by
Aventajado to detail moves on opening communication with Libya,
in order to salvage negotiations to free 12 Western and 16
Filipino hostages held in a jungle hideout on southern Jolo
island.
"What went wrong was the little details that ambassador
Azzarouq had with Commander Robot," Aventajado said.
"There are certain things ambassador Azzarouq and Commander
Robot discussed, and I came to know some of this when Commander
Robot called me up yesterday."
Asked if the row was over ransom money, Aventajado said:
"There are so many elements involved here." He refused to
elaborate.
Libya, with Azzarouq as its pointman, led the latest
negotiations to end the four-month crisis with an offer of
"development aid."
The initiative appeared to be heading for success until
Saturday when the Abu Sayyaf reneged on an agreement to release
their hostages.
Although the guerrillas said they backed off because they
feared a military attack, government sources have said the main
reason was an argument over ransom payments.
The Abu Sayyaf insisted on $18 million -- a million for each
of the remaining nine Westerners taken from Sipadan resort in
April, and $3 million each for three French journalists captured
later, they said.
"The Libyan mediators brought only about $4 million with them,
leading Galib Andang and Mujib Susukan to accuse Azzarouq of not
fulfilling his promise," one source said. "It was not clear what
the promise was."
Following a meeting Sunday night between Aventajado and
President Joseph Estrada, a proposed formula to revive
negotiations was relayed to Libya via Azzarouq. There was no
immediate response, Aventajado said.
He also said Estrada would not deviate from his "all-or-
nothing" release policy, which has been criticized by Azzarouq.
Negotiators on Saturday refused an Abu Sayyaf offer to only
free two Europeans and release the remainder in batches to ward
off a military assault.
Despite defense officials denying plans of military action, at
least 7,000 villagers in the past three days have fled the area
where the hostages are being held, fearing they could be caught
in the crossfire, said Asjada Abdu, the village chief of central
Talipao town.
"These villages are virtually a ghost town. In fact we have
declared them a no-man's land. There are no more civilians in
these areas but guerrillas," he said.
The number of Abu Sayyaf rebels, around 360 before the crisis,
had swelled to 4,500 said Abdu, as the $5.5 million which was
paid for the earlier release of seven hostages was spent on new
weapons, attracting new fighters.
"The villagers are afraid. The weapons are being test-fired
from morning to night-time," Abdu said, estimating the Abu Sayyaf
arsenal at 3,000 weapons and counting.
The police and military in Jolo town fueled Abu Sayyaf fears
Monday by launching a week-long exercise on handling mortar guns.
"This is because according to the Abu Sayyaf, they are going
to attack downtown Jolo and we should be ready for any untoward
incident," military task force leader Col. Susulan Salapuddin
said.
The drama started with the abduction of 21 tourists and staff
from the resort of Sipadan on April 23.
The rebels have since captured several other hostages and
still hold five French nationals, two Finns, two South Africans,
two Germans, a Franco-Lebanese woman and 16 Filipinos.