DATE=2/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=BRITAIN / HIJACK ENDS (L-ONLY 3RD UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-259024
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Twenty-one people on board the hijacked Afghan
airliner were arrested early Thursday morning in
London after all the hostages were released unharmed.
V-O-A Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports from London
that at least 60 of the 165 people on board the
aircraft have asked for political asylum.
TEXT: The freed hostages now are undergoing medical
exams. They then face questioning by police who are
trying to figure out the motive and method of the
hijacking. At least 21 have been arrested on
suspicion of a criminal offense but they will not be
charged until the investigation is completed.
Police describe the whole hijacking as strange, and
say the gunmen never did say why they seized the
aircraft last Sunday in Kabul, or why they chose to
come to Britain.
Officials insist the gunmen did not demand asylum
either. Police say they did not discuss the Afghan
political situation until the final hours of a four-
day marathon negotiating session.
Home Secretary Jack Straw told Parliament that no
guarantees were offered to the hijackers to win their
surrender.
/// STRAW ACT ///
There has been considerable concern as to
whether this hijacking was to seek political
asylum in this country. Both in respect to the
hijackers and any accomplices and in respect of
the other passengers on board. Let me first
make it clear that in the talks that led to the
peaceful ending of this hijacking, no
undertakings of any kind concerning asylum or
any other matter were given by representatives
of the British government. The surrender from
the plane was unconditional.
/// END ACT ///
But since their release, at least 60 of those on board
have requested asylum in Britain for themselves and 14
dependents. Mr. Straw says he wants to send a strong
message to discourage others from seeking asylum in
such a dangerous and dramatic fashion.
///STRAW ACT ///
In the special circumstances of this hijacking,
I have given instructions that I personally will
make the determination for any application for
asylum made by any person aboard this aircraft.
Madame Speaker, while I must and I will act in
accordance with the law, I am determined that
nobody should consider that there can be any
benefit to be obtained by hijacking.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Straw added that his preference - within the
confines of the law - would be to send all those on
board the hijacked airliner back home to Afghanistan.
(SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/GE/JP
10-Feb-2000 11:27 AM EDT (10-Feb-2000 1627 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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