DATE=9/19/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PHILIPPINES / SITREP (L)
NUMBER=2-266785
BYLINE=ALISHA RYU
DATELINE=HONG KONG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Philippine military's offensive on Muslim
rebels in the south of the country continued for a
fourth day Tuesday, with the aim of wiping out the Abu
Sayyaf and rescuing the hostages they are holding.
VOA's Alisha Ryu reports that although some of the 19
captives being held by the Abu Sayyaf have been seen
alive, the army has yet to locate them.
TEXT: The Philippine government is not giving exact
details about the hostage sightings. A spokesman
simply says that "some" hostages were seen on Jolo
Island in the southern Philippines where the military
is conducting an all-out search and rescue mission for
the captives.
Six rebels - out of an estimated five thousand - have
reportedly been killed and some 20 others captured
during the four-day assault.
The government says it believes all of the hostages -
including three Malaysians, two French journalists,
and an American - are still alive but fear they could
be used as human shields. Manila vows to continue the
offensive until all of the hostages are freed.
But military officials say it fought only one battle
on Monday - suggesting the rebels may have split into
small groups and have scattered into Jolo's dense
jungles.
The government says four civilians have been killed in
the mortar and air assault that began on Saturday.
Thousands of others are said to be trapped by a
military naval blockade around Jolo Island.
Journalists say the civilians are facing food and
water shortages.
The rebels - who say they want to create a separate
Muslim homeland in the southern Philippines - have
conducted lucrative kidnapping-for-ransom operations
for years.
The government launched the offensive after the rebels
took three more hostages from a Malaysian resort on
September 10th. The rebels recently released more than
20 mostly Western hostages after receiving millions of
dollars in ransom. (Signed)
NEB/HK/AR/JO
19-Sep-2000 06:29 AM LOC (19-Sep-2000 1029 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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