Muslim Rebels Release 4 Hostages

J O L O, Philippines, Sept. 9, 2000 -- Muslim rebels today released fourEuropeans from four months of captivity in a southern Philippinejungle, negotiators said.

The Abu Sayyaf rebels, who say they are fighting for anindependent Islamic state in the mostly Roman Catholic Philippines,turned over the hostages to the go-betweens at their camp on Joloisland, the negotiators said.

Military helicopters lifted the four hostages and thego-betweens out of the jungles of southern Jolo island.

Military helicopters lifted them out of the remote jungle campand carried them to Zamboanga city. The gaunt, bearded hostagesbeamed as they arrived.

“We were not sure at all of being released today,” saidStephane Loisy of France. “We heard the shooting where we werelocated. And suddenly we were taken in a car and we were actuallyfreed.”

The youngest hostage, German Marc Wallert, 27, raised both armsas he stepped down.

“It feels great of course,” said Wallert, whose mother andfather were released earlier.

Besides Loisy and Wallert, Finns Risto Vahanen and Seppo JuhaniFranti were released today. All were kidnapped April 23 fromMalaysia’s Sipadan diving resort.

Headed for Tripoli

Chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado said the former hostages would be presented to their ambassadors innearby Zamboanga. After spending the night in the Philippines, theywould fly to Tripoli aboard a Libyan plane, he said.

Two French television journalists and 12 Filipino Christianevangelists seized in early July when they visited the camp werenot freed, Aventajado said.

The release was threatened earlier today when the twogo-betweens were ambushed as they traveled to the camp. One oftheir bodyguards was killed and five others were wounded,government negotiators said. Many civilians were also injured, theysaid.

The go-betweens, who were not hurt, were being escorted byGhalib “Robot” Andang, the leader of the Abu Sayyaf factionholding the hostages, when they were attacked by another guerrillafaction, Aventajado said.

Aventajado would not comment on the motive, but the go-betweenswere believed to be carrying a large ransom for the Europeans’release.

Surge in Hostilities

Officials have reported growing tensions within the Abu Sayyafover the sharing of millions of dollars in ransom they havereportedly received for previous hostage releases.

The attack occurred about three miles from where the hostageswere being held, military reports said.

Abdul Majin Kasim, the driver of a passenger jeep, said he sawmen along a main road fire on a convoy of about five vans.

“There were so many shots. I dove out of my jeep,” he said.

Earlier military reports had said the ambush was directed atAndang and another leader of his faction.

On Friday, Andang backed out of a promise to free all theEuropeans, instead offering only three. Government negotiatorsrefused, canceling the release.

Andang had been worried about a military assault if all theforeign hostages are freed, Aventajado said. The governmentnegotiator said he told Andang an attack was unlikely as long asthe rebels are holding the Filipino Christian evangelists.

A separate Abu Sayyaf faction is holding an American, JeffreySchilling, who was kidnapped in late August.

Libyan officials, who helped negotiate for the Europeanhostages, prepared only $4 million in ransom, enough to pay forjust four hostages, an official close to the negotiating panelsaid. Libya has resisted paying for the two journalists, sayingtheir company should be responsible.

‘Almost Over’

“We are almost over with the crisis,” said jubilant Libyanenvoy Rajab Azzarouq. He said negotiators would try to establishcontact with rebel leaders for the release of the two journalists.“Practically, it’s very difficult, but we will try,” he said.

Last week Libya reportedly paid $6 million for the release ofsix others from the group kidnapped from the diving resort. Itinsists the money will go for development projects, not directly tothe rebels.

Schilling, 24, a Muslim convert from Oakland, Calif., was seizedAug. 28 when he visited a rebel camp with his Filipino Muslim wife,Ivi Osani. Osani, who is the second cousin of rebel spokesman AbuSabaya, was not abducted.

The rebels have not announced their demands for Schilling’srelease, although Sabaya has privately demanded $10 million,negotiators said.