KIDNAPPED RED CROSS WORKERS BEGIN FOURTH WEEK WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000247 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2019 TAGS: PGOV MOPS PTER PINR KISL RP SUBJECT: KIDNAPPED RED CROSS WORKERS BEGIN FOURTH WEEK WITH TERRORIST GROUP REF: A. MANILA 0218 (DEFENSE SECRETARY BELIEVES TIME IS RIGHT TO BUILD ON MIL-MIL COOPERATION) ¶B. 08 MANILA 1460 (BROADCAST JOURNALIST FREED BY KIDNAPPERS) ¶C. 08 MANILA 1399 (TOP BROADCAST JOURNALIST ABDUCTED IN MINDANAO) Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Three workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) entered their fourth week as captives of terrorists on Jolo Island in the southern Philippines, while a task force led by the provincial governor sought to engage the terrorist group to negotiate the release of the Swiss, Italian, and Filipino nationals. Security forces, meanwhile, positioned themselves in the vicinity of the terrorist camp to prepare for a possible rescue attempt. The kidnappers demanded in a letter to the government this week that the Philippine armed forces withdraw from Jolo Island and that Vice President Noli de Castro and other politicians be part of the negotiations, both non-starters for the Philippine government. In the meantime, the victims have been communicating on a near-daily basis with their families and ICRC officials, affirming that they are still in good health. The lead ICRC official in the Philippines noted that the organization maintains a "no ransom" policy on kidnappings, but admitted that the Philippine government would pursue its own course in any negotiations, whose potential outcome at this point was extremely uncertain. U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF-P) is providing routine intelligence sharing support to the Philippine Armed Forces, but will not participate in any rescue operation. END SUMMARY. KIDNAPPERS DEMAND MILITARY WITHDRAWAL, NEGOTIATIONS -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers entered their fourth week as captives of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) on Jolo Island in the southern Philippines. ASG-affiliated bandits kidnapped the Swiss, Italian, and Filipino nationals on January 15 after an ICRC prison visit at the Sulu provincial capital building in Jolo City, evading a military pursuit and retreating quickly with their victims into the jungles of nearby Indanan municipality. Sulu Governor Abdelsakur Tan, head of the province's Task Force ICRC, charged with negotiating the workers' release, has not publicly offered details of any discussions with the kidnappers. However, senior Philippine government officials have confirmed to us the accuracy of press reports this week describing the kidnappers' demand letter to the government outlining two preconditions for any negotiations: that the Armed Forces of the Philippines withdraw from the island and that Vice President Noli de Castro and other politicians participate in negotiations. The kidnappers made no other specific demands, and made no demand for ransom. The victims, meanwhile, were confirmed to be in good health during a visit to the terrorist camp by Sulu Vice Governor Lady Anne Sahidullah, and through regular phone calls with their families, government officials, and ICRC representatives. GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS RESPONSE, MILITARY PREPARES FOR ACTION -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Presidential Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that the Philippine government will follow its established guidelines in negotiating the release of the Red Cross workers, including the government's policy of not giving in to terrorists' demands. He acknowledged that the government would heed the recommendations of the Philippine National Security Council and the Sulu Provincial Crisis Committee in responding to the abductors. On the ground in Jolo, Armed Forces of the Philippines General Sabban told press that he was waiting for orders from the Sulu Provincial Crisis Committee to launch a rescue operation. The U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force on Jolo has confirmed an increase in planning activity for a rescue operation by the Philippine military. ICRC CONCERNED ABOUT PHILIPPINES' APPROACH -------------- ¶4. (C) The ICRC head of delegation in the Philippines told us that he did not think the Philippines would agree to send Vice President De Castro to join the ASG talks, as President MANILA 00000247 002 OF 002 Arroyo's press secretary had publicly indicated. ICRC was concerned that Lady Anne, the Sulu Vice Governor who visited the terrorist camp on her own, was acting like a "loose cannon" and could complicate negotiations. In addition, Sulu Governor Tan's Task Force was not communicating consistently with ICRC officials, making it difficult for the ICRC to monitor progress in the situation. With the Philippine government in control of negotiations, the ICRC delegation head admitted that the government would solve the crisis on its own terms, with its own methods. Still, the ICRC hoped for a peaceful resolution to the situation, concerned about the safety of the hostages and others if military forces were to stage an aggressive rescue attempt. COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) Among many recent kidnappings in Muslim Mindanao, this one with ICRC personnel is acquiring a high-profile in the Philippines. Instead of asking for ransom, senior members of the ASG terrorist group are seeking heightened political bargaining, something they have not done in several years. The government feels pressured to act quickly to rescue the hostages before the kidnapping grows into a more major political issue in the Philippines and even internationally. With government forces building up in the vicinity of the terrorist camp, and with the local police now under the command of General Sabban, a military solution is beginning to look more likely. Philippine Defense Secretary Teodoro told Ambassador that the Philippine government felt they needed to take action to rescue the hostages. He said the situation had gone on for too long and that the tendency of Filipino Red Cross officials to listen sympathetically to the ASG kidnappers would only fuel more such kidnappings. Teodoro said he was grateful for U.S. intelligence support and understood that any Filipino rescue effort must protect the lives of the ICRC staff. KENNEY