PHILIPPINES - HOSTAGES COWERING IN BUSH

Jul 2000

DUR 19’00”

HOSTAGES COWERING IN BUSH

GERMAN OVER GUNSHOTS

AERIALS OF GUERILLA CAMP

ABU SAYYAF GUNMEN – BALACLAVAS AND GUNS SCARIEST LOOKING

GUMMEN IN BALACLAVAS CONT’D

SYNCH PHILIPPINES COVT CHIEF NEGOTIATOR

Roberto Aventajadro

OLD SICK WOMAN SIPS WATER CRIES

HOSTAGES

DUCKING SHOTS

FRENCH GUY GIVES THE FINGER – ANGRY LOOKING

AVENTAJADRO IN PRESSER WITH MALAYSIAN

SYNCH FROM PRESSER

AVENTAJADRO WITH COMMANDER ROBOT

ROBOT UPSOT INTO MIKE

TROOPS IN BASKET

CHURCH FUNERAL

ESTRADA IN FATIGUES MEETS HONOUR GUARD – HANDS OUT GONGS TO TROOPS

ESTRADA IN FATIGUES

FIGHITNG – WITH UPSOTS

MILF RELIGIOUS TRAINING SCHOOL – UNIFORMED GUERILLAS

SELAMAT HASHIM, MILF SUPREME LEADER

MILF MILITARY TRAINING, BIG GUN

YOUNG BOY IN CAMP

WOMEN RELIES

MUM COOKING FISH IN MUDDY CAMP

POOR CAMP CONDITIONS

MUSLIM YOUNG FACES – YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN – DEFIANT LOOKS

BACK TO SAUDI AND RELIES

MILF CAMP LIFE – FACES – AFTERNOON

EXOTIC MILF CAMP – GUERILLA MIXED IN WITH CIVILIANS

ARMED GUERILLAS AROUND AND ENTERING MOSQUE

SYNCH AL-HAJ MURAD, MILF MILITARY CHIEF

AL-HAJ MURAD IN MOSQUE PRAYING

THOUGHT-TRACK OVER FACES FIRST, THEN SYNCH AL-HAJ

DR. CAROL OVER RUINED VILLAGE

DR. CAROL AND EVAN LOOKING AT VIDEO – CUT IN WITH VISION FROM VIDEO

GENERAL ANGELO REYES, PHILIPPINES ARMY

GENERAL PINNING GONGS ON TROOPS

BEST OF FIGHITNG – GUNSHOTS ETC. HOUSE TO HOUSE

FATHER ELISEO MERCADO, CATHOLIC PRIEST

TRACK FATHER MERCADO FIRST OVER FIGHTING VISION – THEN SYNCH HIM

MERCADO IN CHURCH SERVICE

UPSOT HOSTAGES

They came from the other side of the world for the holiday of a lifetime.

12 hapless Europeans… they left home for a scuba diving adventure in the exotic Sulu Sea, framed between Malaysian Sabah and the Philippines.

Instead now, they’re simply trying to survive in squalid conditions at the mercy of the kidnappers.

SYNCH GERMAN: WERNER WALLERT

WE ARE AGAIN BEING ATTACKED RIGHT NOW BY THE MILITARY, BY THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY, AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT WE ARE UNDER ATTACK – YOU CAN HEAR THE FIRE THE SHOOTING JUST WITHIN A SHORT RANGE, I DON’T KNOW HOW FAR AWAY IT IS. AND WE APPEAL TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE ENTIRE WORLD TO MAKE THE PHILIPPINE ARMY AND GOVERNMENT STOP THIS RIGHT NOW.

They’re outsiders swept into the edges of a marathon war… it’s been waged for almost four hundred years – but these hostages, like so many in the outside world, probably knew nothing about it… Islam’s fight for a place in Asia’s Catholic heartland.

MAP:

PHILIPPINES

MINDANAO

JOLO

(SLOW OMINOUS MUSLIM MUSIC

OUT OF MAP INTO GUNMAN)

They call themselves Abu Sayyaf, Bearer of the Sword. A band of Muslim extremists with one hand on the Koran and the other brandishing a gun.

They claim to be part of the push for a Muslim homeland here on the island of Mindanao – but in reality they’re the opportunistic fringe of that movement.

(BRIEF UPSOT GUNMEN)

They’re kidnapers – ransom seekers.

When they snatched the diving party and hotel workers from their Malaysian resort island of Sipadan and brought them here to the jungles of Jolo in the Philippines, it sparked world attention – and an assumption that this was an act of political terrorism.

SYNCH AVENTAJADRO:

THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THEY MIGHT HURT THE HOSTAGES - IN CASE THERE IS A BREAKDOWN IN OUR NEGOTIATION - IT’S A POSSIBILITY, I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE LIVES OF THE HOSTAGES ARE EXPOSED TO EXTREME DANGER.

They’ve now been here three months, and the government chief negotiator knows he can’t rush it or threaten force. Even the hostages must’ve thought they were pawns in a desperate power play.

SYNCH HOSTAGE:

WE REALLY ARE DEPRESSED NOT KNOWING DOES IT MEAN ONE OR TWO DAYS, OR WEEKS, OR MONTHS…

LET’S HOPE NEGOTIATIONS GO ON QUICKLY AND THEY WILL MEET ALL THE DEMANDS AND THAT THEY WILL GET US OUT.

Mistreated and abused languishing in squalid conditions, their captors ignored urgent pleas for the medical evacuation of ailing 57-year-old German, Renate Wallert.

SYNCH GERMAN RENATE WALLERT

MENTAL PROBLEMS DEFINITELY, AND PHYSICAL PROBLEMS TOO. BUT TWENTY OF US I THINK CAN COPE WITH THE SITUATION, MY WIFE CANNOT.

But while the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers beat the drum for an Islamic Homeland, their true motivation is money –20 million dollars in fact – and they’ve waited three months for the government to deliver.

SYNCH:

WE HAVE BEEN REALLY DISAPPOINTED AT THE SPEED OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. WE GOT THE IMPRESSION THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT ACTUALLY MORE ENJOYED IN HAVING THE PRESS HERE AND HAVING THE RATIONS SENT HERE THAN NEGOTIATING.

Long into this standoff, there have been concessions.

I’D LIKE TO THANK ALLAH FOR HIS BLESS US TO RELEASE ME AND –

First, a Malaysian national was released – then finally in very poor health, the German woman, and more recently four more Malaysians - but it’s done little to soften Manila’s resolve not yield to the financial demands of the tough Abu Sayyaf militants and their leader – the menacingly named Commander Robot.

UPSOT COMMANDER ROBOT IN TV MIKE –

THEY – THE NEGOTIATORS – ARE THE ONES THAT ARE NOT KEEPING TO WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT. WE WILL FIGHT AND FIGHT TO THE DEATH, THEY WILL SEE THE JIHAD WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

ALLAH AKBAR…runs off.

The tourist snatch and grab is just the latest in a long line of kidnapping incidents. Previously, in the hands of these unpredictable and violent men, captured government troops have been tortured to death and then mutilated.

(UPSOT CHURCH WAILING)

They even take school children and teachers for ransom – and recently beheaded a priest to bring deadly urgency to their cash demands.

UPSOT PRIEST

THE MILITARY MUST BE FIRM IN THEIR DETERMINATION TO WIPE OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL THE ABU SAYYAF.

For the Philippines Government Abu Sayyaf is no more than a pack of bandits.

But an increasingly popular President Astrada is now using the foreign hostage taking and other Abu Sayyaf hits as a license to crackdown – indeed crush – Mindanao’s entire Islamic Movement – and regain a few lost votes in his deeply Catholic nation.

SYNCH ESTRADA

I OFFER PEACE TO THOSE WHO WANT PEACE BUT I PROMISE DEFEAT TO THOSE WHO WANT WAR.

(UPSOT GUNFIRE)

Yet the target of Estrada’s political war is not the Abu Sayyaf. Instead, in a war unknown to the world, the might of the Philippines army has been unleashed on a far larger and more dangerous enemy – a deeply committed army of Muslim freedom fighters.

They’re the 15,000 strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the MILF, todays flag bearers in an historic conflict… Discipline and organization forged by their part in the 400-year fight for an Islamic State in the Mindanao.

SYNCH SELAMAT HASHIM

IF THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT INSISTS OR NOT GIVING WAY TO THE WILL OF THE BANGSAMORO PEOPLE TO BE FREE AND ENJOY SELF-DETERMINATION, IF WE CANNOT ACCEPT THIS NOW, IN OUR TIME, THEN THERE WILL BE CONTINUING CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE BANGSAMORO PEOPLE AND THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT FOR GENERATION AFTER GENERATION. WE ARE EXPECTING THIS.

(UPSOT MILITARY TRAINING)

Many of the MILF’s trainers fought the Russians in Afghanistan or trained in Libya – and they’ve received funding from infamous terrorist Osama bin Laden.

But their real strength lies in entrenched self-sufficiency, and deeply-rooted support from Mindanao’s Muslims, thousands of whom left their everyday lives once a year and came to the MILF’s camps for a month’s religious and guerilla training… ready for call up in any future conflict.

(UPSOT TRAINING)

 (UPSOT FROM REFUGEE CAMP)

Eighteen-year-old Saudi Lumenta is paying the price of Estrada’s political offensive.

Sheltering in a refugee camp with his mother and relatives, they’ve been forced to flee their home by the army’s push against the MILF.

SYNCH SAUDI:

I DON'T BELIEVE THE MILF IS ENGAGED IN TERRORISM OF ALL SORTS BECAUSE WHAT IT WANTS IS PEACE AND ISLAMIC RULE – ACCORDING TO THE KORAN IN THE MORO LAND.

And Saudi’s family is not alone.

Estrada’s political war against Muslims has forced more than half a million people from their homes into these squalid camps.

In one area alone, 35, young and old, have died from preventable disease.

It’s these conditions that forge new fighters from quiet young men – but Saudi has another reason.

His father is missing in action – fighting with the MILF guerillas against what they all see as yet another offensive by Manila’s Christian army.

SYNCH SAUDI

IF I WOULD BE GIVEN THE CHANCE, I WOULD BE FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THE MILF BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THE DAY TO COME WHEN I WOULD BE WEARING THE CROSS.

(BIT OF MUSLIM MUSIC OVER GENTLE MILF VILLAGE)

To boost their claim for an independent future, the MILF ran their camps as nascent Islamic states, with Sharia courts and schools. They draw a substantial arsenal from their own weapons factories.

The Muslim Moro people have been fighting for Islamic independence since before the Philippines was even a country. They’ve resisted some intimidating enemies; the Spanish, the Americans, even the might of the Marcos forces at the height of that dictator’s powers.

They’ve been unassailable but they’ve not managed to yet convert their resistance into their prized homeland they seek.

SYNCH AL-HAJ

THE GOVERNMENT IN MANILA HAVE BEEN EXPLOITING THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF OUR HOMELAND.

(BRIEF UPSOT FROM PRAYERS)

Dubbed a terrorist by Manila, MILF military chief Al-Haj Murad insists he’s fighting for the rights of a forgotten people.

SYNCH AL-HAJ

THE NATIVE PEOPLE HERE HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT. THEY HAVE BEEN DRIVEN OUT OF THEIR AREAS BECAUSE OF AN EXTENSION OF OPERATIONS OF LOGGING COMPANIES, AN EXTENSION OF OPERATIONS OF MINING COMPANIES. IT SEEMS THE MANILA GOVERNMENT IS ONLY INTERESTED IN THE BENEFIT THEY GET FROM OUT OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES BUT NOT THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE.

But the Mosque in which Murad once prayed, and the village in which his people once lived, have now been destroyed.

This is the result of the government’s push to break the Muslim spirit.

DR. CAROL

INDISCRIMINATE BOMBARDING OF POPULATED AREAS, BOTH FROM THE AIR AND FROM THE GROUND USING HOWITZERS, FORCIBLE EVACUATION OF PEOPLE, THE RAZING OF HOUSES TO THE GROUND…

Peace activist Dr. Carol Araullio was commissioned by the Philippines Congress to lead an investigation into the offensive.

Her findings are so disturbing they will now be presented to UN human rights and minority committees.

DR. CAROL

THERE IS A CONSCIOUS DIRECTION TOWARDS TERRORIZING THE CIVILIAN MASS BASE OF THE MILF, TERRORIZING THEM NOT TO SUPPORT THE MILF - AND THEY ARE TRYING TO DRIVE HOME THE LESSON THAT IF YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE MILF, THIS IS WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU.

SYNCH GENERAL REYES

WE ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF TERRORIZING ANYBODY, WE ARE JUST IN THE BUSINESS OF TRYING TO PERFORM WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.

Manila’s top general leading the charge, says the offensive is overdue – his mission, to degrade the MILF’s military strength so they’re forced to accept the government’s terms.

SYNCH REYES

WHEN YOU SPEAK OF DEGRADING STRENGTH, MORE IMPORTANT THAN NUMBERS KILLED IS DESTROYING THE WILL TO EXIST, THE WILL TO FIGHT, DESTROYING THEIR RESOLVE… IT’S NOT THE NUMBER MERELY BUT THE SPIRIT BEHIND THE NUMBER, THE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE - THE MOMENT YOU HAVE DESTROYED THE SPIRIT YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY.

(UPSOT FIGHTING)

And this is how the army is pursuing its goal, at time with fierce house-to-house fighting, in an offensive to drive the Muslim rebels off every one of its camps.

At least 200 government troops have died – but the MILF says it’s killed more like 800.

(FATHER MERCADO OVER FIGHTING VISION FROM SERMON ON WAR AND DEATH – THEN SYNCH)

A Catholic priest in Mindanao for more than three decades – Eliseo Mercado has been in every meeting as the government and MILF tried to hammer out a peace deal.

The offensive, he says, doesn't make sense when the MILF was ready to discuss autonomy instead of independence.

SYNCH MERCADO

I THINK THE PRESIDENCY MYSELF IS NOW A HOSTAGE TO THE PARTICULAR THE MILITARY VIEW THAT THE SOLUTION IN MINDANAO IS DEGRADING THE CAPACITY OF THE MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT. BUT THEY NEVER ASK THE QUESTION