Susilo thanks RP for release of hostages

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.