PHILIPPINES/SINGAPORE: THE AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES AND SEVERAL OTHER FOREIGNERS HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY RENEGADE SOLDIERS

Record ID: 645957

  • Title: PHILIPPINES/SINGAPORE: THE AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES AND SEVERAL OTHER FOREIGNERS HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY RENEGADE SOLDIERS
  • Date: 27th July 2003
  • Summary: (W1) MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES (JULY 27, 2003) (REUTERS) LV OF SOLDIERS AT STREET LEVEL
  • Embargoed: 11th August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES AND SINGAPORE
  • City:
  • Country: Singapore Philippines
  • Topics: Crime,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAE599KO1LOBN7GOZ7E99IXWEGT
  • Story Text: The Australian ambassador to the Philippines and several other foreigners have left a building in the heart of Manila being held by dozens of rogue soldiers.
    Ruth Pearce, Canberra's envoy to Manila, told reporters on Sunday (July 27) everything was "fine" as she emerged looking shaken hours after the renegade soldiers wired the Oakwood building with explosives but denied they were staging a coup.
    Philippine Defence Secretary Angelo Reyes had said two Americans were also trapped in the building but their fate was not immediately known.
    The complex is near the stock exchange, banks, shops, major hotels and residential compounds and also houses the CNN office in the city.
    Foreign tourists and business travellers said they had been well-treated by the rebels as they emerged hours after the soldiers entered the Oakwood building.
    "They were all helpful bringing the cases down and they told us it was to try to help their cause. They said we may not necessarily agree with the way they were doing it but that's what they were doing. Then they guided us out and we are glad to be out of that," said one man who was inside the building.
    "They let us go. They let us pack our belongings. So the main thing we need for the next days I packed now," added another.
    Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer welcomed the news that the Australian ambassador had been released, but told reporters in Singapore on Sunday (July 27) that his government viewed the overnight seizure of buildings in Manila by renegade soldiers "with deep concern".
    "We believe if such a coup were to be successful this would have a very serious impact on the Philippines' relationship with Australia and with other countries around the world. This comes at a very difficult time - the Philippines is in the forefront of the war against terrorism and countries like Australia are providing the Philippines with support in their battle against terrorism and the last thing any of us want at this time is this kind of instability," Downer said.
    Government soldiers arrived at the scene as the rebels continued wiring what looked like explosive devices around the Oakwood building. The rebel soldiers accused the government of planning to declare martial law to stay in office beyond next May's scheduled election.
    President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who has the support of the military command, ordered a manhunt on Saturday (July 26) for up to 70 junior officers and deserters after days of rumours of a coup plot within the armed forces.
    As dawn broke over the capital of 10 million people, armoured personnel carriers and army trucks blocked off major roads in the central business district but there were no signs of panic as crowds of the curious gathered.
    The rogue troops, wearing red armbands and combat fatigues, displayed a red flag similar to the one used by nationalist General Emilio Aguinaldo in a revolt against Spanish colonial forces in 1896.
    A statement from the soldiers accused the government of selling weapons to Muslim and communist rebel groups and of orchestrating bombings to make them appear like guerrilla attacks.
    The 113,000-strong Philippine military has no official role in the democratic process but has traditionally played a major role in who holds power.
    The Philippines was under martial law for years during the nearly two decade rule of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, but the army turned against him in a popular uprising in 1986 and has tried to shake off allegations of rights abuses and corruption.
    The military played a key role in Arroyo's rise from vice-president in 2001 as a popular revolt drove out Joseph Estrada. Arroyo has faced coup rumours in the past over questions about her legitimacy as leader and graft in her government.
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