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Indonesia seeks help from MNLF leader to release hostages
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Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari poses for photograph together with MNLF supporters.
(Courtesy of newsinfo.inquirer.net/-)
I
ndonesian intelligence personnel are communicating with Nur Misuari, the founder of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), in an effort to release 10 Indonesian sailors abducted by Philippine militant groups, a minister has said.
The MNLF leader is assisting the Indonesian government negotiate with Abu Sayyaf splinter groups suspected to be holding the sailors hostage on two separate islands in southern Philippines, Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said.
"Historically, Nur Misuari has close relations with Indonesia. We're basically contacting everyone [who can help], not only him," Luhut said on Thursday.
Nur also has good relations with both Philippine officials and Abu Sayyaf militants and Indonesia should take any means possible to release the hostages, Luhut said, adding that Jakarta should maintain its close cooperation with Manila also.
State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso has also assured the public that negotiations to release the sailors, seven of whom were kidnapped in southern Philippine waters in late June and three others who were abducted in Malaysia’s Sabah waters less than a month later, was going well. (bbn)
