stdalire, do you have any more details on the hostage problem?
Story
Shots fired in area where hostages held in Philippines
May 2, 2000
Web posted at: 7:24 PM HKT (1124 GMT)
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines -- Gunfire was exchanged Tuesday in the area of the southern Philippines where Islamic rebels have been holding 21 hostages, including tourists kidnapped in Malaysia, for more than a week.
CNN Corresponent Maria Ressa says it's not known if any of the hostages on Jolo island were affected.
Military officials said the rebels fired on Philippine troops, wounding five soldiers.
The rebels had brought their captives to the southern Philippines after abducting them in Malaysia nine days ago.
Officials said the rebels from the Abu Sayyaf militia suffered an undetermined number of casualties in the clash in the interior of Jolo island.
Witnesses said the wounded soldiers were later brought to a hospital in Jolo town, the largest on the island.
The officials said there was no immediate word on the condition of the hostages, who include 10 international tourists, 10 Malaysians and one Filipina.
When they were seen by a group of journalists on Monday, the hostages pleaded for a quick end to their captivity and said they were hungry, sick and frightened.
They were kidnapped from the Sipadan Island diving resort off Borneo on April 23 and brought to Jolo in a 22-hour boat journey.
Some 2,000 troops have ringed the camp where the hostages are being kept and the high tension has led to sporadic exchanges of fire with the rebels. But Tuesday's shootout was the first time there were casualties.
A caller to a local radio station who claimed to be one of the gunmen holding the hostages has threatened to behead two of the captives unless the troops are pulled back.
Government trying to end crises
The Philippine government has been trying for days to end the two hostage dramas -- both believed to involve Abu Sayyaf.
Abu Sayyaf allegedly kidnapped the 27 people, many of them elementary school children, on March 20. On Easter Sunday, Abu Sayyaf allegedly seized 21 hostages from a Malaysian diving resort.
Six armed men forced the 21 captives -- 10 Malaysians, three Germans, two South Africans, two French nationals, two Finns, one Lebanese and a Filipina -- after a day of diving to swim from the island to two waiting boats.
Filipino officials have said the kidnappers are seeking autonomy for Muslim areas in the nation's south, and a ban on fishing by big international vessels in the Sulu Sea, the local Muslim's traditional fishing ground, in exchange for the 21 hostages. Initial reports had said the kidnappers had requested $2.4 million in ransom.
Meanwhile, the captors holding the 27 hostages are reportedly seeking the release of three terrorists from U.S. jails, including Ramzi Yousef, mastermind of the 1993 bombing of New York's World Trade Center.
Doctor examines group of hostages
On Monday, the kidnappers allowed a provincial health officer, Dr. Nelsa Amin, to examine the group of 21 hostages, and to bring them medicine. Several journalists accompanied Amin.
The captives told Amin during the 45-minute visit that they were hungry. They pleaded for water and said they had diarrhea. It was the first time they had been examined by a physician since being kidnapped.
"It's terrifying ... We sit here every day. We're sick. We can't eat. We can't drink, and it seems that nothing is happening. We hear no news," Monique Strydom, of South Africa, told the reporters.
"We eat only rice, and the only water we have is the water from the rain," Loisy Stephone, of France, added. "It's very difficult to be clean here. You understand, we have problems with diarrhea, all of us."
Said France's Sonia Wendling: "Today is a good day because we had rain and we could wash, and we had lunch too ... Sometimes we're laughing because if not, we'll become crazy."
Military rescue efforts fail
Meanwhile, the Philippine military's efforts over the weekend to rescue the larger group of hostages failed, apparently after the kidnappers escaped with their captives into the forests. Dozens of military and rebels died in the battle for the base.
Southern military commander Gen. Diomedio Villanueva told a local radio station it was possible that the hostages could have been taken out last week before troops launched the assault on the camp.
"Nevertheless, as long as the hostages are safe, that will be good news for us," he added. "For as long as we don't see that they are dead, there is hope for them."
The troops did, however, find children's sandals, as well as generators and weapons in a maze of World War II tunnels near the rebels' camp. Defense Minister Orlando Mercado dismissed as speculation reports the rebels had joined the other kidnappers.
"Our troops are no longer moving around in the complex ... As far as we're concerned, we are moving out in the surrounding areas in the hope of being able to still find and locate those who have been kidnapped and held as hostages for more than a month now," Mercado said.
[This message has been edited by Coinneach (edited May 02, 2000).]
Story
Shots fired in area where hostages held in Philippines
May 2, 2000
Web posted at: 7:24 PM HKT (1124 GMT)
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines -- Gunfire was exchanged Tuesday in the area of the southern Philippines where Islamic rebels have been holding 21 hostages, including tourists kidnapped in Malaysia, for more than a week.
CNN Corresponent Maria Ressa says it's not known if any of the hostages on Jolo island were affected.
Military officials said the rebels fired on Philippine troops, wounding five soldiers.
The rebels had brought their captives to the southern Philippines after abducting them in Malaysia nine days ago.
Officials said the rebels from the Abu Sayyaf militia suffered an undetermined number of casualties in the clash in the interior of Jolo island.
Witnesses said the wounded soldiers were later brought to a hospital in Jolo town, the largest on the island.
The officials said there was no immediate word on the condition of the hostages, who include 10 international tourists, 10 Malaysians and one Filipina.
When they were seen by a group of journalists on Monday, the hostages pleaded for a quick end to their captivity and said they were hungry, sick and frightened.
They were kidnapped from the Sipadan Island diving resort off Borneo on April 23 and brought to Jolo in a 22-hour boat journey.
Some 2,000 troops have ringed the camp where the hostages are being kept and the high tension has led to sporadic exchanges of fire with the rebels. But Tuesday's shootout was the first time there were casualties.
A caller to a local radio station who claimed to be one of the gunmen holding the hostages has threatened to behead two of the captives unless the troops are pulled back.
Government trying to end crises
The Philippine government has been trying for days to end the two hostage dramas -- both believed to involve Abu Sayyaf.
Abu Sayyaf allegedly kidnapped the 27 people, many of them elementary school children, on March 20. On Easter Sunday, Abu Sayyaf allegedly seized 21 hostages from a Malaysian diving resort.
Six armed men forced the 21 captives -- 10 Malaysians, three Germans, two South Africans, two French nationals, two Finns, one Lebanese and a Filipina -- after a day of diving to swim from the island to two waiting boats.
Filipino officials have said the kidnappers are seeking autonomy for Muslim areas in the nation's south, and a ban on fishing by big international vessels in the Sulu Sea, the local Muslim's traditional fishing ground, in exchange for the 21 hostages. Initial reports had said the kidnappers had requested $2.4 million in ransom.
Meanwhile, the captors holding the 27 hostages are reportedly seeking the release of three terrorists from U.S. jails, including Ramzi Yousef, mastermind of the 1993 bombing of New York's World Trade Center.
Doctor examines group of hostages
On Monday, the kidnappers allowed a provincial health officer, Dr. Nelsa Amin, to examine the group of 21 hostages, and to bring them medicine. Several journalists accompanied Amin.
The captives told Amin during the 45-minute visit that they were hungry. They pleaded for water and said they had diarrhea. It was the first time they had been examined by a physician since being kidnapped.
"It's terrifying ... We sit here every day. We're sick. We can't eat. We can't drink, and it seems that nothing is happening. We hear no news," Monique Strydom, of South Africa, told the reporters.
"We eat only rice, and the only water we have is the water from the rain," Loisy Stephone, of France, added. "It's very difficult to be clean here. You understand, we have problems with diarrhea, all of us."
Said France's Sonia Wendling: "Today is a good day because we had rain and we could wash, and we had lunch too ... Sometimes we're laughing because if not, we'll become crazy."
Military rescue efforts fail
Meanwhile, the Philippine military's efforts over the weekend to rescue the larger group of hostages failed, apparently after the kidnappers escaped with their captives into the forests. Dozens of military and rebels died in the battle for the base.
Southern military commander Gen. Diomedio Villanueva told a local radio station it was possible that the hostages could have been taken out last week before troops launched the assault on the camp.
"Nevertheless, as long as the hostages are safe, that will be good news for us," he added. "For as long as we don't see that they are dead, there is hope for them."
The troops did, however, find children's sandals, as well as generators and weapons in a maze of World War II tunnels near the rebels' camp. Defense Minister Orlando Mercado dismissed as speculation reports the rebels had joined the other kidnappers.
"Our troops are no longer moving around in the complex ... As far as we're concerned, we are moving out in the surrounding areas in the hope of being able to still find and locate those who have been kidnapped and held as hostages for more than a month now," Mercado said.
[This message has been edited by Coinneach (edited May 02, 2000).]