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By Jason Gutierrez
JOLO, Philippines, June 20 (AFP)-Philippine authorities on Tuesday halted a planned food mission to a jungle hideout of Muslim opposition after they refused to disclose the whereabouts of 10 foreign tourists among their 21 hostages, sources close to the government said. A source, which trekked with emissaries to the lair of the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas in the town of Talipao in southern Jolo Island, said the Finnish, French, German, Lebanese and South Africans were still being held separately from the 11 Asian captives. The hostages were snatched from the Malaysian dive resort of Sipadan on April 23 and brought to an Abu Sayyaf sanctuary in Jolo. The rebels split the group earlier this month to deter a possible rescue attempt. "Unless the (foreign tourists) are shown, the government negotiators will not give the go signal to proceed with the food supply," said the source, who asked not to be named. The source said the visiting emissaries saw only 11 Asians, most of them Sipadan resort workers. However, they carried back pictures of the Western hostages, which the rebel leaders said had been taken on Sunday. The pictures showed the hostages huddled in what appeared to be a newly built hut in the jungle. "As soon as it can be determined that the Westerners are reunited with the Asians and are safe, the go signal can be given," the source added. Government negotiators had dispatched the emissaries to verify reports that the hostages had been regrouped. The source said the emissaries were not told the whereabouts of the tourist hostages. However, they believe the tourists were being constantly moved within the Talipao area, according to the source. He also said the opposition leaders "were anxious for the next round of formal negotiations" and had inquired as to when chief government negotiator Roberto Aventajado would arrive in Jolo for the resumption of talks. Official negotiators held their first and only meeting with the Abu Sayyaf leaders in the two-month-old hostage drama on May 27. Negotiations have since dragged on as contacts were done through emissaries amid a flurry of demands by the opposition, including a 21-million-dollar cash ransom and the establishment of a separate Islamic state. President Joseph Estrada's spokesman Ricardo Puno said in Manila that the government was maintaining its policy of not paying any ransom. However, Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said Manila would not stop foreign governments from paying ransom for the release of their citizens. Siazon said, "if you start paying ransom officially, as a government policy, you'll have more kidnappings." However, "if they (other governments) wanted to pay ransom, then what can I do? These are foreign governments. We can't impose our stand," he said. "That's a determination that has to be made by themselves because they have their nationals as hostages." Manila earlier warned Finland, France, Germany, Lebanon and Malaysia against offering cash to redeem their nationals. Sources close to the negotiations said a Malaysian-backed team had conducted separate talks with the Abu Sayyaf and reportedly offered 300,000 dollars each for the nine Malaysian hostages. Kuala Lumpur says it has nothing to do with such talks. The sources also said the rebels offered to free the five women hostages from France, Germany, Lebanon, South Africa and the Philippines for 200 million pesos (4.7 million dollars). Siazon said the European governments involved have indicated to Manila they would maintain a no-ransom policy. "I just have to take, to believe what they've said," he added. |
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