DATE=7/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PHILIPPINES / HOSTAGES (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264130
BYLINE=KONRAD MULLER
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Philippine negotiators are preparing to return
to Jolo island for talks on freeing 20, mainly
foreign, hostages held by Islamic extremists. As
Konrad Muller reports from Manila, the negotiations
will be complicated by the apparent abduction of 13
Christian evangelists and a German journalist.
TEXT: The colorful Philippine television evangelist
Wilde Almeda, and 12 other preachers from the so-
called Jesus Miracle Crusade, journeyed to the Abu
Sayyaf lair Saturday to pray over the 20 hostages.
They have yet to return, despite an earlier offering
to Abu Sayyaf leaders of three-thousand dollars and 35
bags of rice.
Rebel strongman Galib Andang has said the preachers
are staying voluntarily on a 40-day fast. But police
sources say the 13-preachers are being held hostage.
A ransom of about 150-thousand dollars has been
mentioned in the local media.
A German journalist, Andreas Lorenz of Der Spiegel
magazine, was also seized at gunpoint Sunday by
bandits thought to be linked to the Abu Sayyaf. If
so, it is the second time Mr. Lorenz has been
abducted. Earlier, he was among nine Western
journalists forced to pay 25-thousand dollars for
their freedom after visiting the hostages.
Despite these new developments, government negotiators
are signaling their hope progress can be achieved in
talks this week. The crisis has dragged on for more
than 10-weeks, and only one of the original 21
abducted - a Malaysian forest ranger - has been
released.
Political demands have been made by the extremist
group, including the creation of an independent
Islamic state, which the government has rejected.
Officials also say the extremist group's bottom line
is money. Manila has a no-ransom policy.
Negotiators are instead offering increased
developmental assistance for impoverished areas in the
Philippine south. (SIGNED)
NEB/HK/KM/GC/RAE
06-Jul-2000 08:43 AM EDT (06-Jul-2000 1243 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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