Terror Convict Umar Patek Offers Help to Free Abu Sayyaf Hostages
Jakarta/Malang. High-profile terror convict Umar Patek said he is willing to help the Indonesian government release 10 Indonesian ship crews currently being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf militant group in the southern Philippines.
Umar claims he is a friend of the Philippines' most-wanted terrorist Abu Sayyaf, whose group had kidnapped a total of 14 Indonesian ship crews since March 26. Umar had once lived in the Basilan Island with the Abu Sayyaf group under the leadership of Muslim revolutionary Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani.
“I know Abu Sayyaf and his group very well, I think I can definitely help,” Umar told reporters in Malang, East Java, on Monday (25/04), as reported by Antara news agency.
Out of the 14 Indonesian hostages that were held in Basilan, five had already been released. Umar said he was more than confident he could persuade Janjalani to free the remaining Indonesian hostages.
"I joined Abu Sayyaf before Janjalani was there, I'm his senior," said Umar.
Umar, who was sentenced last year to 20 years in prison for his role in the 2002 Bali bombing, said he would not request a special remission in return for his help, adding that he was offering it "for the sake of humanity."
Separately, National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said Umar’s offer of help will not be of much use since the Philippine authorities have made it clear they will not allow foreign individuals or troops to enter the country to release the hostages.
“We have to rely on one-stop communication to do this, through the Chief Security Minister or the Foreign Affairs Minister,” said Badrodin in Jakarta.
Badrodin said there is very little chance that Umar could offer any help since he is still serving a 20-year sentence for his involvement in the October 2002 Bali bomb attacks that killed more than 200 people.
“Umar Patek wants to help? He is still in jail, how could he possibly help us?” Badrodin told reporters.
The company that owns the hijacked tugboat Brahma 12 had agreed to pay the 50 million peso ($1 million) ransom demanded by the Abu Sayyaf for the release of the 10 Indonesian crews. However, the Philippine authorities rejected the ransom payment offer since they feared it would only strengthen the rebel group.
Since then, Indonesia has gone on the soft approach, including by seeking assistance from the Moro National Liberation Front, also based in the southern Philippines. As reported by the Inquirer, MNLF spokesman Samsula J. Adju said his group owes the Indonesian government a favor for the help it offered during the MNLF's 1996 peace truce with Manila.
"We're ready to help to free the hostages," Adju said.
An unconfirmed report said four Indonesian military officials and a state intelligence agent met MNLF leader Nur Misuari a week ago, asking him to assist with the hostage release. Misuari is known to have close ties with one of Abu Sayyaf's commanders, Alhabsi Misaya, who used to fight for the MNLF.
Writing by Edo Karensa
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