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Rebels spend time avoiding military troops |
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September 23, 2000
JOLO, Philippines, SEPT 22 (AP) - An American held hostage by Muslim rebels said Friday they spend much of each day and night evading thousands of pursuing military troops but otherwise he is in good health. Jeffrey Schilling spoke in a relaxed radio interview - his second in less than two days - that suggested the Abu Sayyaf rebels were under less immediate military pressure than Philippine officials have said. On Thursday, presidential spokesman Ricardo Puno said troops had pinpointed the area where Schilling is being held in the jungles of southern Jolo island and hoped to rescue him in the "very, very near future." In the interview with the Radio Mindanao Network, conducted by satellite telephone, Schilling said the Abu Sayyaf were "treating me fine." "I have no problem except now we walk through the jungle because of the operations," he said. "It's really been tiring to walk most of the day and night to avoid the military." Schilling, from Oakland, California, was among 19 hostages being held by the Abu Sayyaf when the military launched a massive attack last Saturday to rescue the captives. He appealed in the interview for a stop to the assault. "Right now, it is the biggest threat to my life," he said. Schilling's mother, Carol, was telephoned in Oakland by the radio station and patched into the interview. She confirmed that the voice was her son's and asked the rebels to release him unharmed. "Jeffrey is not your enemy and I am not your enemy," she said. A faction of the Abu Sayyaf grabbed Schilling, a Muslim convert, three weeks ago when he visited a rebel camp with his Filipino wife and reportedly angered rebel leaders during an argument about religion and politics. A separate faction led by Ghalib "Robot" Andang is believed to be holding 16 other hostages, although a Cabinet official admitted Thursday that the military has lost track of three Malaysian hostages. Two French journalists escaped from the rebels Tuesday night, leaving Schilling, the three Malaysians and 13 Filipinos still in captivity. Using their satellite phone, the rebels have sought Libya's help in restarting negotiations, a Cabinet official said. But the military is not likely to be interested, he said. Military spokesman Gen. Generoso Senga said at least 60 rebels were confirmed dead and 22 had been captured. Six government troops were injured in the six days of fighting, he said. Senga said only four civilians have been injured, but wounded villagers interviewed at Jolo's hospital said they witnessed the deaths of at least three other civilians shot by the military. At least 14,000 civilians have fled the fighting and are in evacuation centers, Senga said. President Joseph Estrada has said he will halt the attack if all the hostages are freed. He portrayed the escape of the two French journalists as vindication of his decision to use force against the rebels. But the two journalists - Jean-Jacques Le Garrec and Roland Madura of France-2 television - strongly criticized the government's handling of the hostage crisis after returning to France Thursday. "It's impossible to imagine a military operation that could have gotten us out of there," Le Garrec said. He called the military assault "a criminal operation" that was endangering the island's innocent civilians and legitimizing the rebel group. The two men were seized July 9 while visiting a rebel camp to interview other hostages. The separatist Abu Sayyaf have kidnapped scores of people since March. Most have been released, with Libya and Malaysia reportedly paying more than dlrs 15 million for 19 foreigners. Estrada's decision to attack the rebels has been widely supported by Filipinos. |