Germany reportedly preparing ransom for Philippine hostages
BERLIN -- The German government is reportedly preparing
an aid offer equivalent to the ransom demanded by Moro
rebels in the Philippines according to a report in the
Welt am Sonntag newspaper.
Citing unnamed intelligence sources, the article said that the aid would include
technical assistance for projects on Jolo island, where
21 rebels have been held for nine weeks. There was no immediate official
confirmation of the report.
The rebels have demanded US$21 million ransom
for the hostages, who were kidnapped over the
Easter holidays from the Malaysian dive resort
of Sipadan.
The Philippine government suspended negotiations
last week and have characterized the Abu Sayyaf rebels
purely as bandits.
Abu Sayyaf has long demanded a separate Muslim state and
has complained about Malaysian treatment of Filipino Muslims
in Sabah. There is a long historical relationship between
the Sulu region of the Philippines and Sabah on the island
of Borneo. For decades, the Philippines even laid claim to
Sabah as a rightful possession of the Sulu sultanate.
At present, many Muslims from Mindanao still have blood relatives
in Sabah and marriages commonly occur between the two regions.
The Malaysian government has recently cracked down on Filipino
Muslims working illegally in Sabah.
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