INDANAN, Sulu: The Abu Sayyaf is not demanding a ransom for the release of three volunteers of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) whom the group abducted on January 15.

Abu Ali, a senior leader within the Abu Sayyaf, told The Manila Times that what they want is an independent Bangsamoro homeland.

“I would like to announce to all our Muslim brothers in the Philippines that what we are doing is not for our self-vested interest but for the interest of the Muslim ummah [community] in order to give them freedom as a Bangsamoro people as well as their right to self-determination,” Ali said.

He also clarified that the Abu Sayyaf is not demanding money for the release of the three Red Cross volunteers, as what has been published in newspapers and aired over radio and television.

“That report is not true and pure lie that we are demanding $10 million as ransom in exchange for the release of the ICRC aid workers from our custody,” Ali said.

The Red Cross confirmed that the Abu Sayyaf has not made any ransom demand for the release of Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba.

Earlier, Sen. Richard Gordon, also the chair of the Philippine National Red Cross, had talked by telephone with a senior leader of the Abu Sayyaf in order to establish a “proof of life” of the hostages a week before Sulu Vice Gov. Lady Anne Sahidullah established personal contact with the kidnappers.

Gordon, after talking to the three hostages, told the Abu Sayyaf bluntly that the Red Cross, as a non-partisan and humanitarian organization, would not in any way negotiate or pay ransom for the release of its three volunteers. He said that he would listen to the demands of the Abu Sayyaf as long their demand is not monetary.

Livelihood aid

A representative of the Red Cross who asked not to be identified and who was with Gordon in Mindanao said the organization could give millions of pesos in livelihood assistance to Sulu so that the peace would be restored in that province.

But Abu Ali said they would not sacrifice their lives if they are only after livelihood assistance.

“If we are only fighting for our livelihood, we might as well lay down our arms and turn into businessmen or farmers to earn a living. But that is not our motive but rather we are fighting for our homeland,” he pointed out.

When asked why they must kidnap Red Cross volunteers, Ali said that is the only way his group can gain attention, especially from the Philippine government.

“No matter how loud we shout and cry even everyday, still the Philippine government would not listen to us.”

No negotiations yet

Contrary to some reports, he added, there are still no formal negotiations between the Abu Sayyaf and the government. He mentioned, though, some acceptable personalities in the government who can negotiate with them: Gordon, Vice President Noli de Castro, Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman, former Basilan Regional Assemblyman Hatimil Hassan, Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan and Vice Governor Sahidullah, government employee Hadji Mokhtar Suhaili and the country’s ambassadors to Switzerland and Italy.

Standing firm

But Malacañang said that the government should not heed the demand of the kidnappers.

“I think we should not glorify and glamorize these people by giving in to their demands,” Press Secretary Cerge Remonde recently told reporters in Manila.

De Castro said his involvement in the negotiations must be cleared first by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Security Council and the Sulu Crisis Management Committee.

Hataman, who is from Basilan province, declined to be part of the negotiations, claiming that he is not familiar with Sulu and not personally close to the leaders in the area.

Suhaili was fielded by the Red Cross as an emissary to the Abu Sayyaf although Gordon emphasized that the organization would not negotiate whatsoever.

Arriving last week in the capital town of Jolo, he said he already met with Tan as a matter of protocol, since the Sulu governor heads the Sulu Crisis Management Committee.

But the crisis committee was not willing to take responsibility for Suhaili’s safety if he was permitted to negotiate with the Abu Sayyaf.

“As a Tausug, my role is only to help resolve this problem so that once and for all our province would become peaceful again. Also, I am just an ordinary government employee with no hidden agenda or political motive,” he said.

Abu Ali said had Suhaili reached their lair on Monday before the fighting with government forces broke out. Negotiations with the personalities he mentioned could have already started.

The Abu Sayyaf senior leader also urged the military to loosen its cordon around them to avoid further clashes. He said they could no longer guarantee the safety of the Red Cross aid workers if fighting erupted again.

“They [Red Cross hostages] might be killed in a crossfire, since bullets will not select what to hit,” Ali warned.

Abu Sayyaf wants homeland, not ransom, for Red Cross hostages