(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an 11 July 2000 RSF press release: Four media professionals held hostage on the Island of Jolo Reporters Sans Frontières wishes to express its profound concern regarding the French public television channel France 2 team taken hostage on the Island of Jolo in the south of the Philippines. A total […]
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an 11 July 2000 RSF press release:
Four media professionals held hostage on the Island of Jolo
Reporters Sans Frontières wishes to express its profound concern regarding the French public television channel France 2 team taken hostage on the Island of Jolo in the south of the Philippines. A total of four media professionals are now being held hostage on the island. At least 23 journalists have been abducted by Philippine rebels since early May.
On 10 July 2000, France 2 management confirmed that reporter Maryse Burgot, cameraman Jean-Jacques Le Garrec, and sound technician Roland Madura were being held hostage by Muslim separatists under Commander Robot. The journalists went into the jungle on 9 July to interview Galib Andang, one of the leaders of the rebel group Abu Sayyaf. They were accompanied by the commander’s brother. They hoped to meet the separatists who have been holding 20 foreigners – including two French nationals – hostage since 23 April 2000. According to Agence France-Presse, the rebels have demanded a ransom in exchange for the release of the France 2 team.
A total of four media professionals are now being held on the Island of Jolo. On 2 July, Andreas Lorenz, Beijing correspondent for the German weekly Der Spiegel, was kidnapped while trying to enter into contact with members of Abu Sayyaf. One of the negotiators indicated that the reporter might be released on 11 July. Part of the ransom has reportedly already been paid. The kidnappers have also promised the governor of the province, Abdusakur Tan, that the German journalist will soon be released. Andreas Lorenz has already been kidnapped on a previous occasion by Abu Sayyaf, at the end of May, along with nine colleagues (cf. below).
Since the 23 April capture of about 20 Western tourists on a Philippine island, the group Abu Sayyaf has been implementing a policy of harassment and racketeering of Western journalists trying to cover the event. The Philippine authorities have recommended that journalists avoid crossing the security area established around Abu Sayyaf camps. This group is currently thought to have 1,500 recruits.
On 13 May, a group of nine European journalists – eight French nationals and one Norwegian – were held hostage for over 24 hours by an “autonomous group” operating in the jungle on the Island of Jolo. They were robbed by the abductors and forced to pay a ransom.
On 30 May, ten journalists – seven German, one French, one Australian and one Danish – were also taken hostage while following a government medical convoy on its way to the camp in which the Western tourists are being held. Four journalists were forced to return to the town of Jolo and to find 25,000 euros, under threat of seeing their six colleagues decapitated. The latter were finally released the next day after being robbed of their money, cell phones, watches and shoes by the men of Commander Robot, one of the five leaders of Abu Sayyaf. The Philippine authorities consequently asked Western journalists to refrain from trying to meet hostages, to avoid compromising their chances of securing their release.
