All set for gov't-Sayyaf talks - Sulu governor

The stage is set for formal talks between government negotiators and Muslim extremists for the release of 21 mostly foreign hostages who have been held captive for a month in Jolo.

Top government negotiator Roberto Aventajado went to Jolo yesterday to lead preparations for the formal meeting today with five Abu Sayyaf rebel leaders.

"All is set for the start of talks," said Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, who is also a member of the government negotiating panel.

Aventajado, a special envoy of President Estrada, said in Manila the government hoped for a "speedy and safe" release of the hostages from seven nations.

"I think the conditions are right," Aventajado said.

"Everyone is doing his part to fulfill the order of President Estrada for the hostages' safe release," he said in a radio interview.

Aventajado will be accompanied by Tan, local peace advocate Farouq Hussein, Islamic scholar Ghazali Ibrahim and former Libyan ambassador Abdul Rahab Azzarouq, to the talks with the Abu Sayyaf leadership at the Tuup Elementary School.

The Abu Sayyaf has made two political demands in exchange for the hostages.

Apart from seeking an independent Islamic state in Mindanao, they are asking for the creation of a commission to probe allegations of maltreatment of Filipino Muslim immigrants in Sabah.

The government has flatly rejected the demand for independence while saying that it had to consult Malaysia on the proposed commission.

Aventajado said he has met with the Malaysian ambassador to explore the demand for the creation of the commission.

"I discussed with him what details are possible and what are not, so when I face the Abu Sayyaf leaders I have a better idea of how to deal with their demands," he said.

The hostages include nine Malaysians, a German family of three, a French couple, two Finns, a South African couple, two Filipinos and a Lebanese.

Abu Sayyaf gunmen seized them on April 23 from the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan and brought them to Jolo by speedboat.

Philippine officials have said they will have to be "realistic" if the kidnappers raise "monetary considerations" for the freedom of the hostages on top of their political demands.

"I see more demands coming up and I do not think the political demands are really what we will be talking about," Press Secretary Ricardo Puno Jr. said Wednesday.

He stressed that ransom demands were "not on the table right now," but added, "you and I can guess" when asked if he thought it would boil down to money.

While the Philippines and many other governments involved in the crisis have a formal policy of rejecting ransom demands, "I guess when we get the formal demands about any monetary considerations, then we will have to discuss that."

He said he did not think the rebels would discuss ransom in public, "but we're realistic, so we'll have to see."

A food and medical mission was dispatched earlier to the hostages, establishing a humanitarian corridor for the captives.

Sulu health officer Dr. Nelsa Amin left for the coastal town of Patikul, where the Abu Sayyaf hideout is located, to drop off four boxes of food and medical supplies.

At the heavily fortified rebel camp, the guerrillas tried to lift the sagging spirits of their captives by slaughtering a cow and preparing a meal of rice and beef stew.

But the hostages said they cannot hold on much longer.

"We want to be out, that's the message we want to send," Lebanese Marie Moarbes told Filipino reporters who visited them yesterday. "We cannot wait any longer and nobody seems to care."

Desperation among the hostages is worsening to the point that some are considering suicide, another captive said.

"They are having nightmares. Some are really considering suicide," Finnish hostage Risto Vahanen said.

Freelance journalist Camcer Ordoñez said the tempers of some hostages had worn thin that they quarreled over chess sets sent in by authorities to help them pass their time.

Rebel leader Ghalib Andang, also known as Commander Robot, refused to say how long he would hold the captives.

"We also want to release them as soon as possible if there is an agreement between the two panels," Andang said. "It's the government who should decide now."

In other developments yesterday, a group of Muslim traders in Pampanga condemned the terrorist acts of the Abu Sayyaf.

Haidi Musa, secretary of the Muslim Traders and Vendors Association, said they are saddened over their misguided brothers who had misinterpreted the Koran.

"We would like to inform our Christian brothers that the Muslim religion promotes peace, brotherhood and justice and that the people must use their judgment and wisdom to understand that it is more just to make individuals accountable for their own actions rather than hold a religion like Islam accountable," she said.

"We assure our Christian brothers that these misguided brothers of ours are only very few," she added.