Vietnam denies sending weapons to Sayyaf extremists Vietnam denied yesterday a military intelligence report that it had supplied P7.6 million worth of arms to Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Mindanao. In a statement, Ho Xuan Phong, Vietnamese Embassy First Secretary and spokesman, said the information was not true. "The Embassy reaffirms that Vietnam always respects the independence, sovereignty of the Philippines and not to interfere into the internal affairs of the Philippines," the statement said. Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. said the issue was not raised by visiting Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien during their bilateral talks last Thursday night. "Those are only reports that have to be verified," he said. Earlier, military intelligence sources said the arms shipment, consisting of assorted high-powered rifles, rocket launchers and at least 10 barrels of 81-mm. mortar, had come from Vietnam for transport to Sulu via Davao City. In another development, Malaysia has assured the government that the fighting in Mindanao would not be a major issue during the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Kuala Lumpur on June 29. A ranking official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), who requested anonymity, quoted Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar as saying that Malaysia did not want to highlight the Sulu hostage crisis and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's application for observer status in the OIC. The government is guarding against the passage by the OIC of a draft resolution calling on the Philippines to stop all military offensives against the Bangsamoro people. "It is to our advantage if Kuala Lumpur tones down the Mindanao issue," sources said. The draft resolution would also urge the government to consider postponing to 2003 the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. National Security Adviser Alexander Aguirre said the government will reject the draft resolution if ever the OIC passes it. DFA officials said the draft resolution is a form of interference in the country's internal affairs, but Siazon is confident that it would not be adopted by the OIC. In Sulu, government negotiators suspended again yesterday talks with the Abu Sayyaf commanders for the release of the 21 hostages being held in the jungle. Earlier, Malacańang announced that the team led by chief government negotiator Roberto Aventajado was scheduled to resume talks with the kidnappers yesterday. An aide of Aventajado said they have not yet set any meeting with the Abu Sayyaf within this week, but that Aventajado will fly to Jolo on Wednesday or late next week to prepare for the second round of formal negotiations. Local officials said the Abu Sayyaf is trying to patch up the intramurals among the terrorist group's commanders following the arrival of their leader Khadaffy Janjalani. Although Janjalani is considered the Abu Sayyaf's "paramount" chieftain, the faction of Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot and Mujib Susukan has opposed Janjalani's participation in negotiations to free the hostages. "They (the government) have to talk to all these people (Abu Sayyaf leaders)," said a Sulu official who requested anonymity. By Aurea Calica - The Philippine Star - June 17, 2000.