DATE=1/29/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244829
TITLE=PHILIPPINES / REBELS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RUTH YOUNGBLOOD
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS DROVE SCHOOL CHILDREN AND TEACHERS TO
SAFETY FRIDAY IN A REMOTE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY,
FOLLOWING THEIR RELEASE BY MUSLIM GUERRILLAS . AS WE HEAR FROM
RUTH YOUNGBLOOD IN MANILA, NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AMONG THE
HOSTAGES WHO WERE USED AS HUMAN SHIELDS AGAINST ARMY ATTACKS.
TEXT: GOVERNMENT TRUCKS PICKED UP THE LAST OF 500 CHILDREN AND
70 TEACHERS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE THEY WERE HELD. JIMMY
CATULONG, VICE MAYOR OF THE FARMING COMMUNITY IN NORTH COTABATO
PROVINCE, SAYS NONE OF THE HOSTAGES WERE HARMED.
HOWEVER A MILITIAMAN WAS KILLED AND A TELEVISION REPORTER WAS
INJURED AS SHE AND A TEAM WERE LEAVING THE SCENE OF THE
HOSTAGE-TAKING. A MILITARY SPOKESMAN SAID THE REPORTER WAS SHOT
IN THE ARM BY REBELS BELONGING TO THE MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION
FRONT, OR M-I-L-F.
SEPARATIST REBELS FLEEING SOLDIERS BACKED BY HELICOPTERS AND
ARMORED FIGHTING VEHICLES, SEIZED THE CAPINPILAN CENTRAL
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THURSDAY. THEY TOOK THE CHILDREN AND TEACHERS
AS HOSTAGES. THE FACILITY WAS PACKED WITH RESIDENTS SEEKING
SAFETY FROM CLASHES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND M-I-L-F. MOST HAD
FLED THEIR HOMES WITH ONLY A FEW PERSONAL BELONGINGS.
PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT JOSEPH ESTRADA, WHO INITIALLY DESCRIBED
REPORTS OF THE SCHOOL SEIZURE AS A FALSE ALARM, SAID IN MANILA
FRIDAY HE HAS BEEN ASSURED ALL THE STUDENTS ARE SAFE AND A
CEASEFIRE IS IN PLACE, AFTER TWO WEEKS OF BLOODY CLASHES.
PRESIDENT ESTRADA HAS BALKED AT CALLING THE INCIDENT A
HOSTAGE-TAKING, BUT A MILITARY SPOKESMAN AT THE SCENE AND
MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS SAY THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WERE USED BY
THE REBELS AS HUMAN SHIELDS.
THE INCIDENT OCCURRED THURSDAY AFTER THE BREAKDOWN OF A CEASEFIRE
ACCORD ONLY HOURS AFTER IT WAS SIGNED. DEFENSE SECRETARY
ORLANDO MERCADO SAID IN RETURN FOR RELEASING THE CHILDREN AND
TEACHERS, THE REBELS WERE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO CAMP ABUBAKAR, THE
SPRAWLING M-I-L-F HEADQUARTERS.
THE M-I-L-F IS DENYING DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN THE HOSTAGE-TAKING
INCIDENT. MOHAGHER IQBAL, M-I-L-F CHEF INFORMATION OFFICER, SAID
THE ARMED MEN WERE NOT M-I-L-F MEMBERS, BUT SYMPATHIZERS. THE
GROUP IS THE LARGEST MUSLIM REBEL FORCE SEEKING A SEPARATE STATE
IN THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY.
THE MAIN SOUTHERN ISLAND OF MINDANAO IS HOME TO SEVEN MILLION
MUSLIMS, THE LARGEST MINORITY IN THE PREDOMINANTLY CATHOLIC
COUNTRY. THE REBELS AND GOVERNMENT SIGNED A CEASEFIRE ACCORD IN
1997, BUT THE PACT HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY VIOLATED. (SIGNED)
NEB/RY/FC/PLM
29-Jan-99 3:14 AM EST (0814 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
