NEWSFLASH

JOLO HOSTAGE CRISIS SCARES AWAY NON-MUSLIM RESIDENTS

Jolo, April 30, 2000 Jolo Mayor Razdi Abu Bakar confirmed yesterday that Christians and ethnic Chinese are fleeing Jolo Island, fearing the rebels hiding in the predominantly-Muslim island could use them as shields if the military decides to assault gunmen holding 21 hostages abducted from Malaysia a week ago.

Pro-government soldiers and para-military troops have tightened security around the Abu Sayyaf's mountain base in Talipao, where the 21 captives from seven nations were taken by suspected international terrorists after their abduction from Sipadan, a diving resort off the coast of Borneo.

Mayor Abu Bakar said many businessmen, particularly the ethnic Chinese, and Christian families were leaving, fearful they might be taken hostage as well.

He said in recent months that businessmen had scaled down their activity in the Sulu islands.

"There are not enough remedial measures to assure businessmen they are safe," he said, adding that many Chinese Catholics had told him they would shelve their business plans.

Sulu police director Senior Superintendent Candido Casimiro said suspected rebel camps at the four towns near the group's mountain base had been cordoned off.

Around 600 policemen had been dispatched to keep watch on areas surrounding the rebel camps.

The police force was joined by military men, mostly Moro National Liberation Front rebels who have joined the Armed Forces of the Philippines as regulars.

Some of these soldiers fired warning shots yesterday to stop journalists and officials of non-government organizations, who were accompanied by town policemen, from entering the perimeter of the Abu Sayyaf base.

"We were blocked by MNLF integrees. They don't want media coverage because it might hamper or jeopardize ongoing negotiations," said Talipao police chief Rudy Yusop. "They fired at us."