Three Malaysian hostages finally free in Philippines

Relatives of Western hostages arrive in Zamboanga, Philippines, in hopes of being reunited with kidnapped family members

August 20, 2000
Web posted at: 11:07 AM HKT (0307 GMT)

JOLO, Philippines (Reuters) -- Three Malaysian hostages held by Moslem rebels on the southern Philippine island of Jolo for four months finally walked free on Sunday.

Reporters saw them brought down by an emissary to the main town on the island from the rebel-held hills, and were being given breakfast at the residence of the local governor prior to being flown out.

"This is excellent, nothing can be better. It's like winning a one million dollar lottery, only better," said Ken Fong Yin Ken, a dive master at the Sipadan island diving resort, off Borneo, from where the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas kidnapped 21 people on April 23.

VIDEO CNN's Zain Verjee interviews former U.N. hostage negotiator Giandomenico Picco regarding hostages in the Philippines Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     AUDIO Former United Nations hostage negotiator Giandomenico Picco discusses the need for trust in hostage negotiations 351K/32 sec.. AIFF or WAV sound     MESSAGE BOARD Philippine hostages

The other two released were resort cook Kua Yu Loong and Basilius Jim, a forest ranger.

The Malaysians were handed over to the emissary on Friday following a deal with negotiators but had been unable to come down from the hills because of bad weather and the presence of armed bandits.

The rebels are still holding a dozen European and South African hostages and a Filipino resort worker, Roland Ulah. Nine of the others are tourists also snatched off Sipadan and three are French television journalists abducted last month on Jolo while covering the crisis.

"We were assured Roland will be freed soon," said Ken Fong.

However, prospects for the release of the others are bleak after the rebels backed off from a deal on Sunday fearing a military attack and negotiators said talks had collapsed.

Libya, which has organised a major initiative to resolve the crisis, said it will end its mediation unless it received assurances from the Philippine government that there would be no military action.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Philippine Information Agency
Library of Congress Country Studies: PHILIPPINES
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
Moro Islamic Liberation Front

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