Close Call for Red Cross Hostages

ZHANG:
Now we have good--but sobering--news on the three Red Cross hostages who are being held by Islamic militants in the Philippines. One of the hostages was allowed to speak with a reporter over the phone. Here's what he had to say.


STORY:
Swiss Andreas Notter and his two companions were abducted on January 15th while inspecting a water and sanitation project on the island of Jolo. They are held by Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines.

[Andreas Notter, Head Red Cross Zamboanga City]:
"It's very stressful and very frightening especially for my companions. We're in the moment in a very difficult situation. The group is under constant alert, so are we, so we have to be ready at any time to move, to move quickly, sometimes during the night, sometimes during the rain, in the mud, everything like this, hours and hours. This is very difficult, especially for my companions. I'm sure you know that Mr. Vagni is more than 62-years-old."

The three are getting enough food and water but their stocks of medicine are running out.

Notter says they are getting very little information from their captors.

[Andreas Notter, Head Red Cross Zamboanga City]:
"We are in a very isolated position. We don't have a lot of information. But for us it is very difficult to understand why the government or the concerned authorities are not able to stop this military movement at the moment and at least to listen at the first instance to what they have to offer, what kind of negotiation they want. This is our greatest concern at the moment."

Initial demands from Abu Sayyaf for talks with the country's vice president and the ambassadors of Italy, Switzerland and Qatar were rejected.

Now the kidnappers want the pursuing military off their backs.

[Albader Parad, Leader Abu Sayyaf]:
"We want everyone to know that we never said we wanted ransom or money. We have never spoken to anyone about our demands, and we will not negotiate until the military has pulled out."

The militants are a small Islamic group blamed for the bombing of a ferry near Manila in 2004. The group is notorious for kidnapping and demanding large ransoms.

Category:

News & Politics

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• hostages
• red
• cross
• philippines
• islamic
• militants
• Andreas
• Notter

[SuperButch888]

stupid!!!!! you dont kidnap people from the red cross......stupid.

[jet76946]

@khael0331. Mohamad was born of a Normal woman(IBN Hisham pp 68-69) while jesus was born by a virgin and serve God as a Child(Luke 2;39-50) 2.Muhamad was Idolater(Sahih Bukari Vol.6 p.452) while Jesus Preach on Gods Command and live a simple life(Luke 4;16-21)  3.Mohamad without Comanded by God Start stealing from others and live on their Goods(Hisham pp 281)

[xXw4l4b2Xx]

@xXw4l4b2Xx oh judging from how stupid you are, you might try to correct my spellings. It's called "TRYING TO FIT IN THE COMMENT BOX." " NO OFFENCE." Dumb ass hater. "NO OFFENCE." :)

[xXw4l4b2Xx]

@FilipinoMEDIA if u want to express ur feelings, dont go revealing on hw stupid u r. Nver group ISLAMS with the MILFs in Philippines cos wen u say Islam ur talking about the whole Muslims around the World. The MILFs in Philippines r stupid fighters tryng to mke a mark for a non existing cause. And lastly, hu is ALLAH? Allah is the same GOD we Christians worship. We just cal him GOD and not Allah and Kiling isnt part of Islam aswel as Christianity. But like U stupid exists anyway and breaks laws.

[FilipinoMEDIA]

Islams are piece of shit no offence, they ruined the all Mindanao part of Philippines, All muslims should not be in Philippines.

they has the rules about their fucking book written by their god? who tha fuck is madafuckin Allah? son of a fckin sht! and Killing people is normal and its not fucking fair as a human being.

(No offence) just wanna share my feelings about whats happening in my lovely country Phillipines.

[TausugMujahideen]

@vhindoy if you know what the meaning of red cross can you tell me ??? even we don't go to school,why i can speak in english ?? stupid people like you only exist in black hole or pluto .. this is not a terrorist,and for you information i'm the abu sayyaf member from basilan..i join the abu sayyaf group since my age 15 but why i can speak in english language?? you so dumb..i have go to school and i can speak in english and tausug language..fool !..tagalog mlangi adat !! bilat hi apuh mu ! -------

[vhindoy]

@marvin140100 what did you think about this terrorist group,they did not even go to school they dont even know the meaning of red cross.

[marvin140100]

how dare they kidnap people from the red cross... thats the most stupidest thing to do if you want the military 'off your back's". They're literally trying to make an enemy of the world of justice and peace... its so sad

[jet76946]

Ngayon Basahin Mo yan and Tell me kung asan ang Hustistya jan..Jesus is The CHRIST and the name stands for the Son of God One of the 3 Trinity ok!!! na-intindihan mo!!!