PHILIPPINES: HOSTAGE CRISIS LATEST: INTERVIEWS

Описание: (7 May 2000) English/Nat
XFA
A group of 21 hostages, including 10 foreign tourists, have appealed to the Philippine government to halt all military operations so that negotiations for their release can begin.

The hostages are being held by Islamic extremists in the hills near Talipao on southern Jolo Island in the Philippines.

The group spoke to two Associated Press journalists, allowed to visit them late on Saturday in their jungle prison, a cage made of tree branches.

But despite the hostages request for a halt to the military action against the Abu Sayyaf separatist kidnappers, Philippine government forces continued the offensive on Sunday.

The 21 hostages were being held in a cage made of tree branches in the foothills of a small mountain near Talipao on Jolo island.

The pigpen-like cage was divided into two, with the foreign tourists in one half and Asians in the other.

The hostages include three Germans, two French nationals, two South Africans, two Finns and one Lebanese in addition to nine Malaysians and two Filipinos.

They were kidnapped from a Malaysian diving resort two weeks ago and brought by boat to Jolo, about one hour away.

The hostages asked for the Philippine government to stop the offensive against their captors.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Okay My name is Marc Wallert, I'm from Guttingam in Germany. I'm one of the 21 hostages. If I can say something it is please stop any military action. Please do not endanger our lives anymore and get us out of here please. Very soon. We are very ill and the conditions are very very bad."
SUPER CAPTION: Marc Wallert, German Hostage

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Sonia Wendling, from France. I want to go out here as soon as possible and probably it won't be possible if you continue the military action so make it possible for us to go."
SUPER CAPTION: Sonia Wendling, French Hostage

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I'm Risto Jahanen from Finland. So far we have been in good conditions here, most of us, but we are facing some problems as you can see. Some of us are taken ill. We are hoping for a release in the coming week and if that will not take place I think our mental...mentality will be quite low. And we really rely on the international community now to act fast and press the Philippine government to stop the military actions and withdraw, because that is the first step in the negotiations and the international forum has to be involved. This will not be solved just between the Philippine government and the Islamic movement."
SUPER CAPTION: Risto Jahanen, Finnish hostage

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I am Marie Moarbes, I'm Lebanese and I want to tell you that there is a very sick person here. Mark's mother. She is sick. She is an old lady and she cannot take it anymore. (Q. What is the mother's name?) Renate Wallert. She is very sick. I'm a red cross.... and I cannot do anything. We don't have medical care. We don't have doctors here so please do as fast as you can because she is very sick.She is very ill and we cannot do anything for her. We just look at her and we are....it's hopeless. And we are all of us, very weak as well. It's been now 13 days we are here, so please make it fast."
SUPER CAPTION: Marie Moarbes, Lebanese hostage

SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Fong Yin Ken, Malaysian hostage

One hostage, Renate Wallert of Germany, was allowed by the rebels to lie in a plastic hammock because of back and other health problems.

Meanwhile, more than 100 Abu Sayyaf guerrillas armed with M-16 rifles, grenades and long knives roamed the area, surrounded by coconut trees.






SOUNDBITE: (English)

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