DATE=9/2/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PHILIPPINES - HOSTAGES (Q&A)
NUMBER=2-266078
BYLINE=HUGH WILLIAMSON
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Philippines chief hostage negotiator says
six remaining Europeans being held on the southern
island of Jolo by Muslim rebels may be released next
week. Also U-S citizens Jeffrey Schilling, being held
by the rebels, is reportedly on a hunger strike. VOA
NEWS NOW's Kurt Henschen in Washington spoke by phone
with "Financial Times" correspondent Hugh Williamson
in Manila at 5:30AM,EDT, 9/2/2000, concerning the
continuing hostage crisis.
TEXT:
Henschen - First, Hugh , I would like to start with
this latest statement from the Philippine negotiator,
what breakthrough is reflected here?
Williamson - Mr. Roberto Aventajado is the negotiator
and he said today (Saturday) that he is very hopeful
the seven remaining hostages (six Europeans and one
Filipino), who have been held for up to four months on
Jolo island, will be released next week. He has not
given more details about when it would be but this is
the most positive statement about the situation since
the other group of hostages, six of them, were
released seven days ago.
Henschen - We have heard promises of release before.
Is there any reason to think this one is genuine?
Williamson - It is clear that Mr. Aventajado has some
sort of agreement with the hostage-takers about when
the hostages will be released. The main question that
should be raised at this time is, of course, the
influence of the other hostage-taking going on
(Jeffrey Schilling, the American citizen taken hostage
last Monday). The Philippine side has been keen to
stress the two are separate and there will not be any
delay in the release of the six Europeans and one
Filipino because of Mr. Schilling. However, analysts
here are saying there is likely to be some delay
partly because the U-S has not ruled out the use of
force in freeing Mr. Schilling and that is obviously
raising tensions on the whole island of Jolo.
Henschen - Mr. Schilling himself seems to be resisting
the situation and he is on a hunger strike. Has
anyone else, who has been held hostage, used this sort
of tactic?
Williamson - Not as far as we know. There have been
no reports of that. This announcement that he is on a
hunger strike was mentioned in a radio interview with
a spokesperson for the Abu Sayyaf Islamic rebel group
today (Saturday). Its known that he is resisting in
several ways. He has demanded European or American
style food, because he cannot eat the local food
available there. The hostages have been living on
rice and a bit of fish every so often. He (Mr.
Schilling) is also ill (with an eye problem and
asthma). So it seems he is having a pretty tough
time.
Henschen - I also understand they are trying to get
some medicine to him, the hostage-holders, is that
correct?
Williamson - That is correct. On Friday the Red Cross
said it would begin to deliver medicine and food to
Mr. Schilling. That is after they made an agreement
with the Abu Sayyaf. There has been no time set for
that. In the past similar Red Cross visits have taken
some days, if not a week or two, to organize.
Henschen - Hugh, you have been watching the situation
for a long time. It still seems pretty amorphous to
me. Does it seem to you it is resolving itself?
Williamson - It did appear to be resolving itself
until Monday when Mr. Schilling was captured. There
seemed to be momentum to the end phase of the hostage-
taking, with six hostages released then, and the
others to be released soon after. However Mr.
Schilling's capture has complicated matters
significantly. The United States has a different
strategy for dealing with the hostage-takers. A much
tougher strategy, much less willingness to negotiate
and certainly lack of a willingness to pay any ransom.
In the wider context however, hostage-taking has been
going on for some years in the southern Philippines
and the huge ransoms, allegedly payed in the last few
months for the releases, are going to fuel more
hostage-taking in the future its fairly clear. And
Mr. Schilling seems to be the first example of that.
NEB/HW/KH/PLM
02-Sep-2000 07:02 AM EDT (02-Sep-2000 1102 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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