| HOSTAGE CRISIS:
MILITARY FORCE AS A LAST RESORT KOTA KINABALU, June 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia hopes that any military force
to secure the release of the 21 hostages in Jolo in the southern Philippines will only be
used as a last resort to end the crisis.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal said Monday this was because such action was
very dangerous and put the lives of the hostages in jeopardy.
"That (rescue operation) should only be the last option to free the hostages. For us,
what is important is the safety of the hostages," he told reporters after chairing an
organising committee meeting on the closing of the Independence Month, here.
He also hoped that the crisis, which had dragged on for nearly two months, could be
resolved peacefully as soon as possible without any bloodshed.
"On the part of the Philippine governnment, they are trying their best to solve the
problem, and have their own considerations with regard to the Abu Sayyaf's demands...we
respect that.
"At the same time we are concerned for the hostages' safety, whether they are
Malaysians or foreigners," he said.
Philippine chief hostage negotiator Roberto Aventajado was quoted as saying recently that
the government was not ruling out a military option to resolve the crisis.
The crisis started on April 23 when a group of gunmen took nine Malaysians and 12 foreign
tourists hostage in Sipadan Island off Sabah.
On the latest developments in Jolo, Shafie said all the hostages were reported to be safe
and the government had sent medical supplies there on board a special Royal Malaysian Air
Force aircraft three days ago.
"We have also proposed to the Philippine government to set up a special body to
monitor the health of the hostages," he said.
On the Independence Month, he said that besides the National Day celebrations on Aug 31,
the government had decided to celebrate Independence Month from Aug 17 to Sept 16 and
Sabah had been chosen to host the closing ceremony this year.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, was scheduled to perform the
closing ceremony in Teluk Likas, near here, he said.
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