Three French journalists abducted

(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is strongly condemning the abduction of three French TV journalists on the southern Philippine island of Jolo. According to IPI’s information, the three journalists were abducted on 9 July 2000 and spotted the next day at a hideout of the Muslim extremist guerrilla organisation, Abu Sayyaf, on Jolo island. The journalists, identified […]

(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is strongly condemning the abduction of three French TV journalists on the southern Philippine island of Jolo.

According to IPI’s information, the three journalists were abducted on 9 July 2000 and spotted the next day at a hideout of the Muslim extremist guerrilla organisation, Abu Sayyaf, on Jolo island. The journalists, identified as Maryse Burgot, Jean-Jacques Le Garrec, and Roland Madura, all with France-2 television network, were seen in a camp belonging to Galib Andang, an Abu Sayyaf leader. Andang is believed to be the chief culprit behind the 12-week hostage crisis which began on 23 April with the abduction of 20 people, mostly foreign tourists, from a Malaysian resort off Borneo island. The journalists had reportedly arranged to interview Andang and his hostages when they were detained by the rebels.

These kidnappings are only the latest in a series that have seen more than thirty people abducted. On 2 July, German journalist Andreas Lorenz, a correspondent with “Der Spiegel”, was kidnapped at gunpoint by four men while making his way to the rebel hideout to cover the abductions. Last month, the Abu Sayyaf also held ten foreign journalists working for German news agencies, releasing them after they paid 25,000 dollars (see IFEX alerts of 7 and 5 July 2000).

Recommended Action

Appeals To

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency Joseph Estrada

President

Malacañang Palace

Manila, Republic of the Philippines

Fax: +63 2 735 6152
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.