Susilo thanks RP for release of hostages

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has conveyed his personal thanks to his Philippine counterpart, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, for the safe release of two out of three Indonesians held hostage by Muslim militants.

Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said Susilo telephoned Arroyo on Monday to convey Jakarta's appreciation for Manila's efforts to free the two hostages and its hopes for the speedy release of the third man, who is still in captivity in the southern Philippines.

"The President said during the telephone conversation that he had been impressed by the efforts made by the Philippine authorities to release the two hostages and hoped to forge closer bilateral ties between the two countries in countering terrorism and transnational crimes," Dino said.

Yamin Labaso, 28, and Erikson Hutagaol, 23, two of three Indonesian seafarers who had been held captive by Muslim gunmen on the southern Philippine island of Jolo since March, were freed after Philippine Army troops clashed with the kidnappers at dawn on Sunday.

The third hostage, identified as Achmad Resmiyadi, is still being held somewhere on the island.

Philippine Armed Forces chief Gen. Efren Abu promised after the rescue operation to release Resmiyadi within the next few days.

The three were kidnapped after their boat was attacked in the waters off Malaysia's Sabah state by a group calling itself the Jamiat al-Islamiah of Southern Mindanao. The group is believed to be affiliated with the Abu Sayyaf group, which has in turn been linked to the Osama bin Laden-led al-Qaeda terrorist network.

Earlier reports said that the kidnappers had executed one of the three hostages, but the Indonesian foreign ministry denied this.

Susilo is scheduled to make an official visit to Manila on June 20-21 to enhance bilateral cooperation in the counterterrorism and transnational crime fields.

Meanwhile, Ferry Adamhar, the director of Indonesian citizen protection at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Labaso and Hutagaol were still receiving medical treatment at a military hospital in the southern Philippines city of Zamboanga, and were expected to arrive home in the next four or five days.

Ferry said the two men were in good condition but they needed medical treatment as they were physically weak.

The official said an Indonesian team had intensified coordination with the Philippine authorities in order to ensure the safe release of Resmiyadi.

"We are deeply concerned about Resmiyadi, who is still being held. We give you our assurances, however, that we will continue working hard to release him," Ferry said after receiving the relatives of the Indonesian hostages at his office on Monday.

He added that the Indonesian team was still lobbying the authorities and informal leaders in the southern Philippines to seek up-to-date information on Resmiyadi's condition.