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| Southeast Asia |
| Two Germans being held by Abu Sayyaf |
| 2014-07-19 |
| Two German tourists who have been missing for three months had been abducted by Abu Sayyaf rebels and were being held "unharmed" by the group in the southern Philippines. Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, said the Philippine government has ordered troops to locate the Germans in Sulu province and ensure their safe recovery but he would not say what the military intends to do. Stefan Okonek and his female companion, Henrike Dielen, were taken at gunpoint from a yacht between Malaysia’s Sabah state on Borneo Island and the western Philippine province of Palawan in April and then taken by boat to predominantly Muslim Sulu, about 590 miles south of Manila, where the Abu Sayyaf has held other hostages. A police general said the Germans were seen once by some villagers while washing themselves in a mountain stream, guarded by the rebels. Philippine police officials have obtained a picture of a Caucasian man and woman squatting and holding onto a German flag while being surrounded by heavily armed men with covered faces. The gunmen are standing in front of a black flag often used by Abu Sayyaf rebels and thick foliage. Guerrero said the Abu Sayyaf is currently holding about ten hostages in Sulu's jungles, including the Germans and two European birdwatchers who were kidnapped two years ago. The rebels have been using the birdwatchers as "human shields" from persistent government offensives, he said. |
| Posted by:ryuge |