19 September 2016•Update: 19 September 2016
By Ainur Rohmah
TUBAN, Indonesia (AA) – A negotiator revealed Monday that Indonesia expects a militant group based in the Philippines’ troubled south to free another one of its nationals following the release of three fishermen over the weekend.
Retired Maj. Gen. Kivlan Zein was quoted by detik.com as saying, "a hostage will be freed today… Hopefully there will be no obstacles."
He identified the hostage as a captain seized from a boat off the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah in early August.
Over the weekend, the Abu Sayyaf freed Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, who was kidnapped from a resort on the island of Samal in September 2015 alongside two Canadians who were beheaded earlier this year.
It later released three Indonesian fishermen -- who were abducted off Sabah in mid-July -- and all four men were hosted Saturday night by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebel group’s fugitive founder, Nur Misuari.
The MNLF, which is engaged in a peace process with the Philippines government, has been facilitating negotiations for the release of hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf, which is believed to still be holding captive at least 11 foreigners and three Filipinos.
Indonesia’s defense minister, who had been visiting the southern Philippines for negotiations when the fishermen were freed, told reporters upon his return to Jakarta on Sunday night that one more hostage would be released.
“Philippine troops keep coordinating with the MNLF," Ryamizard Ryacudu was quoted as saying by kompas.com, describing the rebel group as having a dominant role in rescue operations due to their knowledge of the field and Abu Sayyaf hideouts.
He reiterated that the captives had been freed purely due to pressure from the Philippines military and MNLF forces, insisting that no ransom had been paid despite reports stating otherwise.
The minister added that the three fishermen had been handed over to Indonesian representatives Sunday and would return to their home country in the near future.
At least five Indonesians are believed to still remain in the captivity of the Abu Sayyaf, which released two Filipinos late Sunday night.
Since 1991, the group -- armed with mostly improvised explosive devices, mortars and automatic rifles -- has carried out bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortion in a self-determined fight for an independent province in the Philippines.
It is one of two militant groups in the south to have pledged allegiance to Daesh, prompting fears during the stalling of a peace process between the government and MNLF-breakaway group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that it could make inroads in a region torn by decades of armed conflict.
