| PHILIPPINE
REBELS REUNITE HOSTAGES By OLIVER TEVES,
Associated Press Writer
MANILA, Philippines (AP) -
Muslim rebels have reunited their 21 hostages in the southern Philippines, nearly two
weeks after separating them because of fears of a military rescue attempt, the
government's chief negotiator said Wednesday.
``We just got the report that
they have regrouped the hostages,'' Robert Aventajado said.
He said the captives are under
the control of two Abu Sayyaf rebel commanders at a mountain hide-out on Jolo island.
The rebels seized the captives
- three Germans, two French, two Finns, two South Africans, a Lebanese, nine Malaysians
and two Filipinos - from a Malaysian resort near Jolo on April 23.
The rebels moved the Western
hostages to another location 13 days ago, leaving the Asian captives at a jungle camp in
Talipao.
The move came after Aventajado
said the government had not ruled out a military rescue if talks with the rebels failed.
The rebels also demanded Aventajado be removed as chief negotiator.
Aventajado later clarified his
remarks, saying the negotiators were not advocating any military action. On Saturday the
rebels agreed to continue dealing with him.
Official negotiations remain
suspended as part of a ``cooling off period'' declared by the government after the rebel
demands began escalating, Aventajado said.
Presidential Executive
Secretary Ronaldo Zamora has said the rebels are demanding at least $1 million for each
captive.
Talks between the government
and the rebels have focused so far on the guerrillas' political demands, including a
separate Islamic state in the southern Philippines. Aventajado has often reiterated the
government's policy of not paying ransom to kidnappers.
The rebels also are demanding
the protection of traditional fishing grounds from large trawlers, many of which are
foreign-owned, and the formation of a commission to examine the problems of Filipino
Muslims living in neighboring Malaysia.
The Abu Sayyaf is the smaller
but more radical of two Muslim secessionist groups fighting for a homeland in the southern
Philippines.
The larger group, the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front, has indefinitely postponed peace talks scheduled to resume June
28 because of a military offensive against their forces. The rebels say the attack
hampered their efforts to consult members on a proposed political settlement offered by
the government.
Armed forces vice chief of
staff Lt. Gen. Jose Calimlim has accused the rebels of stalling the talks to gain time to
rearm after a series of battle setbacks.
President Joseph Estrada said
Wednesday he will extend a June 30 deadline for a peace deal only if the rebels abandon
the goal of seceding from the country and halt attacks.
An MILF spokesman, Eid Kabalu,
said the group does not accept Estrada's condition or recognize the deadline for the peace
talks.
Despite having 20 projects near
areas of intense fighting between rebels and the military, the Philippines' major
international donors have reported no major setbacks with development projects in the
impoverished south, officials say.
To affirm their support, donor
countries and multilateral agencies announced a fresh pledge of $2.6 billion for the
Philippines on Tuesday, with $375 million allocated for projects in the southern region of
Mindanao.
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