DATE=5/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PHILPPINES HOSTAGES - L
NUMBER=2-262171
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In the Philippines, emissaries are to
meet / are meeting with Abu Sayyaf Muslim rebels
trying to secure the release of 21 mostly foreign
hostages being held on the southern island of
Jolo. As Amy Bickers reports from Manila, the
Philippine military says the rebels are moving
the captives around the jungle to elude capture.
TEXT: Former Libyan ambassador Rajab Azzarouq is
leading the negotiations. He is being accompanied
by a doctor.
The top priority is to secure the release of
Renate Wallert, the 57-year old German hostage
who is reportedly suffering from exhaustion and
hypertension. Local officials say another
hostage, Stephane Loisy of France, also needs
immediate hospitalization.
/// OPT /// A five member medical team and a
plane have been placed on stand-by to evacuate
the sick hostages once the rebels release them.
/// END OPT ///
Members of the Abu Sayyaf abducted the group
from a Malaysian diving resort on April
23rd. Since then, they have been living in the
jungle on the tropical Philippine island of Jolo.
/// OPT /// The other hostages include Finns, a
South African couple, a Lebanese woman,
Malaysians and Filipinos. /// END OPT ///
/// OPT /// European and Libyan envoys trying to
help free the hostages have said they were
optimistic that a peaceful ending to the standoff
was near. /// END OPT ///
Former Libyan ambassador to the Philippines Rajab
Azzarouq - while criticizing the Muslim rebels
for violating the principles of Islam - indicated
he thought the Abu Sayyaf rebels were ready to
talk. He told reporters that certain concessions
could be made, but only after the hostages were
freed.
/// OPT /// Former NATO secretary-general Javier
Solana arrived in Manila Tuesday with blankets,
food and medicines for the hostages and offered
help to Manila. Seven hostages come from Europe.
Mr. Solana met with President Joseph Estrada but
stressed that he was not in Manila to act as an
international mediator. /// END OPT ///
Philippine government negotiators however appear
pessimistic. The rebels have yet to issue a list
of demands. In the past, the Abu Sayyaf has
sought ransom for its numerous kidnapping
victims.
The Philippine military has been engaged in
skirmishes with the rebels during the past
several weeks and has set up cordons to contain
Abu Sayyaf movements. Local officials say the
captors have sliced through army lines with all
or some of their captives.
Abu Sayyaf, the smaller and more extreme of the
two Muslim rebel groups active in the southern
Philippines, is also holding a separate group of
Filipino hostages in nearby Basilan province.
/// REST OPT ///
After a series of clashes, killings and rescues,
about eight people - mostly children - are still
being held.
Bombings and clashes between the army and the
larger Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front, have also intensified in the
last month. (SIGNED)
NEB/HK/AB/JO
10-May-2000 02:23 AM EDT (10-May-2000 0623 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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