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DATE=5/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PHILIPPINES HOSTAGES (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262879
BYLINE=KONRAD MULLER
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Representatives of the Philippine government 
and leaders from the Abu Sayyaf Muslim separatist 
group opened formal talks Saturday to free 21 mainly 
foreign hostages held by the rebels for nearly five 
weeks.  As Konrad Muller reports from Manila, the 
authorities are offering development aid in an attempt 
to break the deadlock in the southern Philippines.
TEXT:  After repeated failures, the fact that formal 
negotiations finally opened in the jungles of Jolo 
island is seen here as a breakthrough.  Chief 
government negotiator Robert Aventajado and his team 
met Saturday afternoon with four Abu Sayyaf officers, 
including the commander known as Robot, at a mosque in 
the village of Bandang in Talipao town.
While the negotiating teams sat inside with local 
Muslim clerics, scores of Abu Sayyaf gunmen patrolled 
the village's approaches.  The source of their 
apprehension -- the Philippine military -- had earlier 
received orders to remain eight kilometers away from 
the site, and apparently did.
At the talks, Philippine government representatives 
again rejected one demand publicly made by the rebels: 
the creation of an independent Islamic state in the 
Philippine south.  Nevertheless, the rebels have also 
expressed interest in development projects for their 
province.
/// Opt ///  The Libyan envoy, Abdul Razzaq Azzarouq, 
a member of the government's negotiating team, says he 
is now exploring aid funds with several of the 
hostages' countries.  He says Libya is willing to 
assist.  Health, education, water, and transport are 
sectors mentioned by the rebels. /// End Opt ///
The 21 hostages include citizens of Germany, France, 
Finland, South Africa, Lebanon, Malaysia and the 
Philippines.
The Abu Sayyaf is the smaller of two Muslim separatist 
groups in the Philippine south.  /// Opt /// It is 
widely accused of criminal activities, such as 
kidnapping for ransom and extortion.  But analysts say 
lawlessness in the region is also a symptom of the its 
poverty and political alienation. /// End Opt ///
(SIGNED)
NEB/KM/JP
27-May-2000 10:12 AM EDT (27-May-2000 1412 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.