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Duterte, Misuari to discuss hostage crisis in Jakarta
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said on Tuesday that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari would come to Indonesia to discuss the bilateral efforts to free 10 Indonesians currently held hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants.
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Moro National Liberation Front (MILF) leader Nur Misuari poses for photographs with MILF supporters.
(Courtesy of newsinfo.inquirer.net/-)
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oordinating Political, Legal and Security Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said on Tuesday that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari would come to Indonesia to discuss the bilateral efforts to free 10 Indonesians currently held hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants.
“The two will see me. Let's see how it goes,” Luhut said as quoted by kompas.com. He stopped short of revealing the date of Duterte and Misuari’s planned visit to Jakarta, saying only that they would come "in the near future".
The government has sent a negotiator to Philippines to talk to Misuari, who is believed to have access to the Abu Sayyaf group, Luhut said. The negotiator is working with Misuari to contact the hostage-takers, he added.
Jakarta is unlikely to conduct a “risky” military operation to rescue the hostages even though Manila has given its permission, the senior minister said.
“The only viable option is negotiation. Misuari has major influence among Abu Sayyaf [militants]. The Philippine government has also tried to reach out to Misuari.” (ary)
