Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
12 May 2000
The South African Ambassador in Manila has continued her high-level interaction with other Ambassadors and senior officials in the Philippine Government. The purpose of these discussions is to obtain an assessment on the situation and to consider future measures.
In a briefing by the Philippine Defense Secretary to the Ambassadors in Manila, it was confirmed that a regular supply of food, medicine, water and other necessities would be delivered to the hostages.
The demands of the hostage-takers are not yet known. The South African Government's policy is that no concessions should be made that could encourage extortion by terrorists.
South African officials who are currently in Manila will travel to the southern city of Zamboanga over the weekend to assess the situation closer to the theatre of operations.
It has been confirmed that messages from family members of the South African hostages have been read over a local radio station in the Philippines which broadcast to the area where the hostages are being kept.
The South African Government has arranged that a consignment of clothing, biltong, dried fruit and nuts be forwarded to Manila for delivery to the hostage group. The foodstuffs and clothing have been donated by a number of leading South African companies. The South African Government takes this opportunity to thank those companies for their kind donations of foodstuffs and clothing. The Task Team will continue to be in regular contact with the families of the South African hostages and will brief them on ongoing developments.
The South African government continues to be concerned about the safety, security and general well-being of South African hostages, Callie and Monique Strydom. South Africa will therefore continue to support all initiatives which are aimed at the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The appointment of Professor Ghazali Ibrahim and former Libyan Ambassador to the Philippines, Mr Rajab Azzarouq, to assist in the process of negotiations is noted with interest.
The Philippine Government remains fully responsible to exhaust all avenues in addressing this hostage crisis decisively without resorting to the use of armed force. It is important that this hostage crisis should be resolved without bloodshed or the loss of life.
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