Freed Malaysian hostages in Philippines emerge
from guerrilla hideout
JOLO, Philippines, Aug 20 (AFP)
- Hungry and tired, three Malaysians emerged from the jungles on southern Jolo island in
the Philippines Sunday, ending four months in captivity at the hands of Muslim extremists
who still hold 28 other hostages.
"The first thing I want to
do is have a chicken curry," beamed cook Kua Yu Loong after 118 days surviving on
meagre rice rations handed out by the Abu Sayyaf captors
The release of Kua, dive
instructor Fong Yin Ken and wildlife ranger Basilius Jim was announced by negotiators on
Friday. When they had not been sighted more than 24 hours later there were fears they may
have been recaptured after the guerrillas reneged on plans to release the remaining
hostages.
But Jamil Hassan, an emissary
in the hostage crisis, said the Malaysians had been unable to come down from the guerrilla
mountain hideout because of bad weather.
"It was because of the
weather, because of our security and safety we decided to come down today, which is a
Sunday and which is my lucky day," Hassan said.
The Malaysians had stayed in
the home of a guerrilla leader, Radulan Sajiron, after their release and taken time to
bathe and swim as they tasted freedom for the first time in 118 days, he said.
Kua described the rebels as
"okay, they treated us well and fairly."
The trio were the last to be
released of the nine Malaysians among a group of 21 western tourists and Asian resort
workers seized from the Malaysian resort of Sipadan on April 23.
Two Finns, two Germans, two
French nationals, two South Africans, a Filipino and one Franco-Lebanese woman remain
captive along with three French television journalists and 15 Filipinos who were seized
later.
When they arrived in Jolo town
Sunday the freed Malaysians were taken to the home of provincial governor Abdusakur Tan
and fed on fried fish, fried chicken and mangoes.
"It's good, the food is
good," said a jubilant Fong who was desperate to go home.
"We are all going to take
a vacation with our families and have a reunion with our friends," he said.
The Malaysians were to be flown
home Sunday by Fong's pilot father Fong Shau Fah, delighted at finally being reunited with
his son after arriving in the Philippines on Friday when told his release was imminent.
"I'm relieved I am seeing
my son after about four months," he said.
The Malaysian ambassador to the
Philippines Arshad Hussain welcomed the release of his countrymen, and said that despite
Saturday's breakdown in negotiations to free the remaining hostages he expected more
releases soon.
"More than half of the
original 21 Sipadan hostages have been released which is a very good sign. I'm convinced
that despite the temporary setbacks, more sucesses will be forthcoming in the near
future."
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