French journalists flee captors

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, SEPT. 20. Helped by the massive military operations against their Abu Sayyaf captors, two French journalists escaped last night and reached Manila from Jolo island today to tell their sensational story to the international press.

The escape of Mr. Jean-Jacques Le Garre and Mr. Roland Madura must come as a major success for the Philippines President, Mr. Joseph Estrada, whose military operation against the Abu Sayyaf had come under some criticism. The strident criticism of the Filipino action by the French has now turned to praise. The former French hostages told reporters in Manila that a group of 13 Filipino evangelists, who had voluntarily gone to the Abu Sayyaf camp, were also safe. With this, all the hostages barring the American, Mr. Jeffrey Schilling, who, by one account, was brokering an arms deal with the Abu Sayyaf, and three Malaysians, are now alive and accounted for.

``We took the opportunity of the military pressure which they (the security forces) imposed on the Abu Sayyaf group to move all the time and especially to move at night. We took the opportunity of last night's move when we left at seven p.m. local time) from the place we were. And when we got across a road, we took the opportunity of the deep darkness to....escape,'' Mr. Le Garrec was quoted as saying.

Addressing the same press conference, Mr. Joseph Estrada said no effort would be spared to crush the Abu Sayyaf. ``We cannot stop here, there are still 17 hostages to go....we shall continue to pursue the Abu Sayyaf criminals and secure the safety of the remaining hostages,'' Mr. Estrada said, adding that he had ordered stepping up the military action against the Abu Sayyaf.

The military action against the Abu Sayyaf is said to be endorsed by the Filipino people, who have been critical of the Estrada Government for the endless negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf. Following the latest capture of the three Malaysians, the Government had little option but to turn to the military to tackle the Abu Sayyaf. The endless negotiations also had a bearing on the personal popularity of the President. However, the new found freedom of the two French hostages will change all that for the moment - both domestically and overseas.

``If the offensive hadn't taken place, we have to have the honesty to recognise that they (the two French men) would still be hostages. They were able to escape thanks to the confusion created by Philippine commandos,'' the French Foreign Minister, Mr. Hubert Vedrine, said in response to the escape.

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Section  : International
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