DATE=5/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PHILIPPINES - REBEL (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262057
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=MANILA
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A unilateral ceasefire declared by the
biggest Moslem rebel group in the Philippines is now
in effect. And as correspondent Amy Bickers reports
from Manila, all 21 captives held by another
separatist group are reportedly alive, contrary to
earlier reports.
TEXT: Hostage negotiators working on behalf of the
Philippines government reportedly have confirmed that
all 21 of the captives, including 10 foreign
tourists, are alive. Earlier in the week, the Abu
Sayyaf rebels said that two hostages had died during
clashes with the military.
The rebels have threatened to behead two foreign
hostages if the military does not back off. A rebel
leader said in a local radio interview broadcast
Friday that the group is discussing whether or not to
carry out the threat.
The government says negotiators have reopened contacts
with the Abu Sayyaf rebels. The two sides stopped
talking earlier in the week when up to two- thousand
government troops encircled the hostages and their
captors. The Abu Sayyaf is the country's most radical
separatist group. It wants to create an independent
Musilm homeland in the Southern Philippines. It is
also known for demanding high ransoms for its
kidnapping victims.
The hostages it is now holding on the remote Jolo
Island are 10 Malaysians, three Germans, two French
nationals, two South Africans, two Finns,one Lebanese
and one Filipino. They were abducted April 23 from
Malaysian diving resort, and taken by boat to Jolo
about one hour away.
On the nearby island of Basilan, another unit of the
Abu Sayyaf had 27 Filipino captives until Wednesday,
when 15 hostages were rescued by government troops
and four others were killed. The Basilan rebels are
believed to be holding nine or ten remaining hostages
and troops are continuing to search for them.
Elsewhere in the Southern Philippines, the biggest
Moslem rebel group in the country, the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front, declared a 48-hour unilateral
ceasefire which took effect six A-M local time
Saturday. The government says the move could lead to
renewed peace talks but President Joseph Estrada would
not say if security forces would join the rebels in
downing their weapons.
Deadly bombings and fighting between the M-I-L-F and
troops has forced more than one-hundred thousand
people to flee their homes in the last few days, but
there were only a few isolated clashes on Friday.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PT
05-May-2000 21:55 PM EDT (06-May-2000 0155 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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