|
Philippine Troops Told to Rescue Indonesian Hostages in Jolo
 Amid criticisms of government inaction, the military commander for the southern Philippines yesterday ordered troops to rescue three kidnapped Indonesian seamen held by suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists. Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza flew to Jolo Island and personally gave the order for troops to do their best to rescue the Indonesian seamen, who were taken hostage on March 30 by gunmen off Mataking Island near the Sabah border. The hostages were crew members of the tugboat Bongagaya 91, owned by the Malaysian boat firm, Syarikat Pengangkutan Bonggaya. The vessels were returning to Sandakan in Sabah from East Kalimantan when the bandits attacked them. "We are continuing our rescue operation to track down and rescue the three Indonesian nationals. We have intensified our search for the hostages and their captors," General Braganza told reporters in the troubled island of Jolo yesterday. Jakarta has asked the Philippine government to act swiftly on the safe recovery of the victims, Ahmad Resmiyadi, 32; Yamin Labaso, 26; and Erikson Hutagaol, 23. The kidnappers have demanded three million ringgits ($789,600) in exchange for the safe release of the hostages. The gang said it would kill one of the hostage if ransom is not paid. The demand was sent Thursday to the Indonesian Consulate in Sabah. Posted by: Fred 2005-05-22 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=119730 |