JOLO, Philippines (10 Sep 2000) -- Risto Vahanen, one of the four Sipadan hostages freed last weekend, said Abu Sayyaf rebels raped some of the female hostages. "They (the women) thought that it must be published, but not with names, so that the world would know," said Vahanen. He added that the male hostages were not able to protect the women because they knew it would lead to more aggression. Of the original group of 21 dive tourists and hotel staff abducted from Sipadan Island, only Roland Ullah, a diving instructor, remains captive. Abu Sayyaf rebels are also holding two French television crew kidnapped in July, an American kidnapped in late August and over a dozen Filipino evangelists. | | Sipadan hostages Yesterday, armed bandits attacked another diving resort on Pandanan Island near Sipadan and took three more hostages. The bandits fled in high-speed boats toward the southern Philippines. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
