DATE=5/8/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PHILIPPINES / HOSTAGES (L)
NUMBER=2-262088
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Twenty-one hostages held by Muslim rebels on a
southern Philippines island are pleading for a
peaceful solution to the crisis. As Amy Bickers
reports from Manila, the captives are seen in
videotaped interviews imploring the Philippines
government to stop the military build-up on Jolo
Island where they are being held.
TEXT: Desperate please came from the hostages held in
a jungle cage by Islamic extremists on Jolo Island.
Fong Yin Ken, a Malaysian resort worker, was among the
21 captives abducted on April 23rd from nearby Sipidan
Island.
/// FONG ACT ///
The most important thing is to stop military action.
Not just to stop, but to pull out the military as
well. So far we do not have rest because every time
the military is near us we have to start packing
everything and walk.
/// END ACT ////
Other hostages made similar requests, begging the
international community to press the Philippines to
stop bringing more troops onto the remote island,
where they are being held captive by a group of Abu
Sayyaf rebels. Risto Jahanen was on vacation from
Finland when he was abducted.
/// JAHANEN ACT ///
So far we have been in good condition here, most of
us, but we are facing some problems. As you can see,
some of us are taken ill. We are hoping for a release
in the coming week and if that will not take place I
think our mental state
will be quite low and we really rely on the
international community to act fast.
/// END ACT ///
Javier Solana, a high-ranking European Union diplomat,
is expected to arrive in Manila on Tuesday to stress
Europe's concern for the safety of the hostages. Other
countries have also offered to help. But the
Philippine government insists the kidnapping is a
domestic issue and refuses to allow other nations to
get involved. The hostages come from seven different
countries.
There are growing concerns that a solution will not be
reached in time for a very sick hostage, 57 year-old
Renate Wallert. Journalists who visited the hostages
in the jungle say she is lying in a plastic hammock,
overcome with exhaustion. /// OPT /// The rebels have
not allowed her to leave the jungle with a doctor or
journalists, despite pleas from her son and husband
who are also among the captives.
Hostage Marie Moarbes from Lebanon expresses the
group's anguish for ailing German woman.
/// MOARBES ACT ///
I want to tell you that there is a very sick person
here, a mother. She is very sick, she is an old lady,
and she cannot take it anymore. We
just look at her and it is hopeless. And we are all of
us very weak as well.
/// END ACT //// ///END OPT ///
The government said on Sunday that it did not want to
endanger the hostages but it would consider a rescue
raid if the crisis drags on. The rebel captors say
they will not negotiate until Philippine troops stop
all operations in the area. (Signed)
NEB/AB/FC
08-May-2000 03:09 AM EDT (08-May-2000 0709 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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