Indonesian captives of Abu Sayyaf in good condition –Indonesian official

From GMA News (Jun 28): Indonesian captives of Abu Sayyaf in good condition –Indonesian official

The seven Indonesian crew members kidnapped off Sulu province in southern Philippines are in good condition though being constantly moved around by their captors, believed to be the Abu Sayyaf group, an Indonesian official said Tuesday.

A report on Jakarta Post quoted Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi as saying that the victims' families have already been informed of their condition.

"They are now in one group, but they are sometimes moved around and split into two [groups]," Retno said.

"They are constantly on the move and it is estimated that they are still on Jolo Island."

The seven were abducted on June 22 when their tugboat was intercepted by armed men on board two motorized boats while en route to Indonesia in the Sulu Sea.

Information reaching the Philippine military said the victims were later turned over to the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu under sub-leader Majal Adja alias Apo Mike.

Among those kidnapped was the boat's captain, who had called his wife in Indonesia to relay that their kidnappers were asking 20 million Malaysian ringgit.

The al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf terrorist group is notorious for kidnapping activities including of foreigners.

It recently beheaded two Canadian nationals it abducted on Samal Island in September last year.

The group was also responsible for the abduction of 17 Indonesian sailors in separate incidents in March and April of this year. All victims had been released eventually.

Retno, in the Jakarta Post report, said the Indonesian and Philippine governments are intensively communicatingto work toward the safe release of the latest batch of hostages.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/571656/news/regions/indonesian-captives-of-abu-sayyaf-in-good-condition-indonesian-official