RP confirms US$1m ransom demand for each hostages

RP confirms US$1m ransom demand for each hostages

JOLO, Philippines (AP): Muslim extremists holding 21 mostly
foreign hostages in a jungle camp are demanding at least US$1
million for each captive, and negotiations for their release
could last up to six months, President Joseph Estrada's chief
aide said on Monday.

Government negotiators are also trying to resume food supplies
and medical missions to the hostages, who are being held by Abu
Sayyaf rebels in the mountains of remote Talipao on southern Jolo
island, executive secretary Ronaldo Zamora said.

"That's what the Abu Sayyaf is demanding," Zamora said in a
radio interview, referring to the ransom demand.

The government and rebels so far have focused on the
guerrillas' political demands, including a separate Islamic state
in the southern Philippines, but will eventually have to haggle
over a ransom, Zamora said.

Chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado has said he will
stick to a Philippine government policy of not paying any ransom
to kidnappers and will not allow any other parties to negotiate
separately with the rebels.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, visiting Manila
to express concern over the slow pace of negotiations for the
release of the 21 hostages, including nine Malaysians, suggested
last week that the Philippines should reverse its no-ransom
policy.

The Abu Sayyaf is the smaller and more extreme of two rebel
groups fighting for an independent Islamic state in the
impoverished southern Philippines.

The rebels seized three Germans, two French, two Finns, two
South Africans, a Lebanese, nine Malaysians and two Filipinos on
April 23 from the diving resort of Sipadan island, which is being
disputed by Indonesia and Malaysia, and brought them to Jolo at
the southern tip of the Philippines, about an hour's boat ride
away.

Zamora said the governments of the hostages are prodding the
Philippine government to work for the rapid release of the
hostages. But he warned that negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf
guerrillas could drag on for up to six months.

Several of the hostages have fallen ill and all have suffered
from depression during their jungle captivity.

Two weeks ago, the rebels separated the Caucasian hostages
from the Asians because of fears of a possible military rescue
attempt. Since then, food and medical deliveries to the hostages
have been suspended.

A government emissary who spoke on condition of anonymity said
the food and medical deliveries will not be resumed unless the
rebels reveal the whereabouts of the Caucasians, who are believed
to be held about a kilometer from their former camp, where the
Asians remain.

Abu Sayyaf rebels said last week they would no longer talk
with Aventajado after he said the government would not rule out a
military rescue if talks with the rebels fail. The rebels later
said Aventajado could continue as negotiator after he clarified
that he was not endorsing a rescue of the hostages.

In several negotiating sessions, the rebels have refused to
abandon their demand for an independent nation. The government,
however, has repeatedly ruled out any breakup of the Philippines.

The rebels are also demanding the protection of traditional
fishing grounds from large trawlers, many of which are foreign-
owned, and the formation of a commission to examine the problems
of Filipino Muslims living in neighboring Malaysia.

The Abu Sayyaf rebels are active in Jolo, part of Sulu
province, and in the nearby province of Basilan. Decades of
government neglect, lawlessness and the proliferation of guns
have made Sulu, about 950 kilometers south of Manila, one of the
country's most impoverished provinces.