DATE=5/4/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PHILIPPINE HOSTAGES (L-ONITER)
NUMBER=2-261988
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: There is growing concern over the fate of 21
hostages held in the southern Philippines after their
Islamic separatist captors split them into small
groups and took them deeper into the jungle. As Amy
Bickers reports from Manila, leaders from some of the
hostages' countries are appealing to the Philippines
to put the captives' safety ahead of domestic
considerations.
TEXT: Philippines defense officials said Thursday the
rebels had divided the hostages into groups of four
and five people and were trying to break through a
ring of troops around their forest hideout 960
kilometers south of Manila.
After sporadic clashes with government forces
Wednesday, the rebels moved their captives to another
hideout. Separatists from the Abu Sayyaf rebel group
captured the hostages April 23rd on Sipadan, a
Malaysian resort island near Borneo. They come from
seven nations, and officials from some of those
countries are worried that internal disputes could
take precedence over the captives' safety. Their
concerns increased when authorities carried out a
commando-style rescue of 15 hostages held by another
unit of the Muslim separatist group. After the clash,
four hostages were found dead and five were wounded.
About 10 hostages are still in the hands of their
captors. Germany has repeatedly stressed its
opposition to any violent attempt to free the foreign
hostages, including three Germans.
/// Opt /// German officials in Berlin and Manila
have said the country is willing to help the
Philippines negotiate the captives' release. /// End
Opt /// France has also expressed it concerns. There
are two French citizens among the hostages. The
others come from Finland, South Africa, Lebanon,
Malaysia and the Philippines.
Some of the hostages have appealed for international
help from the United Nations and the Organization of
Islamic Affairs.
Nur Misuari, a former Muslim rebel himself, has been
acting as mediator on behalf of the Manila government.
On Thursday, he repeated his view that the military
should withdraw and that the crisis should be handled
through negotiations.
/// Rest Opt ///
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said in
Kuala Lumpur that Philippines President Joseph Estrada
had promised a visiting Malaysian delegation that his
troops would not step up military action against the
kidnappers.
The condition of the hostages is not known, but there
are fears that those who are reportedly ill and
exhausted may my find it difficult to keep pace with
the rebels as they move through the jungle. (SIGNED)
NEB/AB/JP
04-May-2000 12:16 PM EDT (04-May-2000 1616 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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