Freed hostages en-route to Tripoli
2000-09-11 11:45
Cebu - Four Europeans freed by Philippine Muslim extremists after four and
a half months in captivity headed home on Monday, leaving two
Frenchmen, an American and 16 Filipino hostages still in the hands
of the Abu Sayyaf gunmen.
Finns Risto Vahanen, Seppo Fraenti, Frenchman Stephane Loisy and
German Marc Wallert boarded a Libyan jet for Tripoli at dawn,
bearing with them bitter memories of their 140 days in the tropical
jungle of the remote southern island of Jolo.
The government decided to send the four on their way after the
guerrillas warned Manila that any attempt to extricate two French
journalists left behind in the handover of European hostages on
Saturday could endanger their lives.
"I wish the ones who kidnapped us would be condemned in a trial
because they have committed a crime and crime should be punished,"
Finnish ex-hostage Risto Vahanen told local television.
"I hope your country will find a peaceful solution in Jolo,"
Vahanen said before boarding the jet.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is expected to welcome the four in
Tripoli, which played a key role in their release, before they head
on to their home countries.
They were accompanied by medical personnel and diplomats from their
countries as well as Libyan mediator Rajab Azzarouq, Tripoli's
point man in negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas.
The Russian-made plane was chartered by the Gaddafi Charitable
Foundation, an organisation headed by Gaddafi's son Seif al-Islam,
which offered up to $10 million in development aid to poor
Muslim areas in the southern Philippines.
Sources close to the negotiations said millions of dollars in
ransom were also paid to the guerrillas, but the charity has denied
this.
The 16-hour flight would include a refuelling stopover in the
United Arab Emirates.
"I'm just waiting to go home. I am very happy to be freed," said
Loisy, who spent his first full day of freedom on Sunday diving in the
waters off Cebu.
"I still love diving," said the Frenchman, who was abducted by the
Abu Sayyaf with 20 others from the Sipadan diving resort in
neighbouring Malaysia and brought to Jolo on 23 April.
The four Europeans were to have been joined by French journalists
Jean-Jacques Le Garrec and Roland Madura, abducted in Jolo in July
while covering the hostage crisis.
Chief government negotiator Roberto Aventajado told reporters
on Monday that Abu Sayyaf leader Galib Andang warned him that both
sides should allow the situation in Jolo to stabilise following
bloody infighting which preceded the four Europeans' release on
Saturday.
Intelligence sources said the fighting was due to a dispute over
ransom spoils. They said more than a dozen guerrillas were killed
and 20 others were wounded. Seven of the wounded gunmen were being
treated at the Jolo provincial hospital on Monday.
Andang warned the government that "if we make a move now the lives
of the French journalists could be placed in jeopardy from a
crossfire, or they could be hijacked by another group," Aventajado
said.
"The French government understands the situation and so the jet is
leaving now."
American hostage Jeffrey Schilling, held by another Abu Sayyaf
faction, meanwhile asked the Philippine and US governments to
enlist the help of Libya to convince the gunmen to free him.
"I would like to appeal to the American and Philippine governments
to negotiate for my safe release," the 24 year-old from Oakland,
California said in the message broadcast on DXRZ radio in the
southern city of Zamboanga.
"Please see the Libyan government to act as negotiator to end my
captivity as soon as possible."
Police say the Abu Sayyaf detained Schilling on 28 August when he
visited their camp. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA