DATE=7/15/2000
TYPE=Q&A
TITLE=PHILIPPINES HOSTAGES
NUMBER=2-264445
BYLINE=HUGH WILLIAMSON
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A second Malaysian captive has been released
as the hostage crisis in the Philippines continues.
The crisis began on April 23rd when Abu Sayyaf gunmen
took 21 people hostage from a Malaysian diving resort.
Since then, 13 Filipino Christian evangelists have
been siezed along with three French journalists, all
being held on Jolo island in the southern Philippines.
Three Filipinos are also being held on nearby Basilan
Island Abu Sayyaf rebels have been demanding money and
an independent Muslim state in return for the
hostage's release. At 5:30AM,EDT , 7-15-2000, Victor
Beattie of VOA NEWS NOW in Washington did a phone
interview with correspondent Hugh Williamson in Manila
concerning the ongoing crisis.
TEXT:
Beattie - We understand there is anticipation there
may be more hostages released after this second
Malaysian hostage was released on Friday.
Williamson - The hostage taking is taking place on
Jolo Island which is a remote island in the southern
Philippines west of the main island of Mindinao. The
hostage taking has been going on since the 23rd of
April when 21 hostages were taken from eastern
Malaysia. They are being held by Muslim separatists
belonging to a group called "Abu Sayyaf." Hopes are
high for more hostage releases because a second of the
hostages was released yesterday (Friday), one of the
Malaysian captives, and today (Saturday) Roberto
Aventajado, who is the chief Philippine government
negotiator with the Muslim rebels, said he hoped the
whole hostage-taking would be over by the end of July.
And he was also optimistic that at least one of the
European hostages, who is very ill, will be released
within a few days.
Beattie - Can you give us an indication about what has
precipitated the release of these two Malaysian
hostages and the possible release of more?
Williamson - It is not quite clear why they have been
released but most speculation is simply that the
Malaysian government or intermediaries for the
government, have payed some sort of ransom to get some
of their nationals out. But the Malaysian government
and the Philippines government have said that has not
happened. The Malaysian government has admitted that
its willing to support so-called "livelihood projects"
or development projects in the southern Philippines
and that may have sparked the recent releases. In
general the Philippine negotiators are optimistic
because they now have a new direct line of
communication with the rebels through a fax-phone
which they didn't have until recently and that is one
of the reasons they want to pursue the negotiations a
bit more aggressively than in the past.
Beattie - Coinciding with the release of the two
Malaysians has been the visit to Manila, to see
President Estrada, by some European diplomats. Is
that related to the hostage situation?
Williamson - They were in town, the foreign ministers
of France, Germany and Finland, all of whom have
nationals among these hostages. They were here to ask
Mr. Estrada to quickly resolve the crisis and also to
do so without the use of force. The release of the
Malaysian hostage on Friday is not releated to their
visit. Even the foreign ministers themselves admit
that. But they are still optimistic. The European
nations involved have committed themselves to not
carrying out any independent negotiations but leaving
it to the Philippine government to do so.
Beattie - Is there speculation more hostages could be
released this weekend?
Williamson - It is very difficult to tell. I think
there will not be any more releases this weekend
because there was just one on Friday and it tends to
take some time. The hostage takers are very
unpredictable, illogical rebels in the way they have
been operating but there seems to be some momentum
over the next few weeks, I would say, for an end to
this. Even the hostage takers have said they are
getting tired of it and have asked for speedier
negotiations. Behind the scenes, negotiations for
what form of ransom will be payed and how the drama
will come to an end do seem to be taking place now.
NEB/VB/HW/PLM
NEB/WTW/
15-Jul-2000 07:26 AM EDT (15-Jul-2000 1126 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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