Video shows abducted priest alive and stable

NEGOTIATIONS TO free kidnapped Irish missionary Fr Michael Sinnott have been stepped up following the release of a video showing the priest alive and stable, though living in difficult conditions.

Negotiators have, however, firmly rejected a demand for a $2 million (€1.35 million) ransom.

The video, which is believed to have been sent to government negotiators, shows the Wexford man wearing a white T-shirt and holding a copy of the Philippine Daily Inquirer dated October 22nd, 11 days after a group of about six gunmen snatched him as he was strolling in the garden of his order’s compound in southern Pagadian city.

“This video has brought things to a different level. We know it gives things a new focus, but even with that we have to settle in and wait again, because we do not agree to anything the kidnappers demand. So we wait,” said Fr Pat O’Donoghue, regional director of the Columban Fathers in the area.

“There is no doubt at all that it’s Mick, it’s very much him. The problem is that the video is more than eight days old by now,” said Fr O’Donoghue, who was worried about how the wet weather would affect Fr Sinnott’s health, as he was apparently being held outdoors. Speaking by phone from the southern Philippines, he sounded tired after frantic and frustrating days in Mindanao trying to secure his colleague’s release.

However, Fr O’Donoghue reiterated his message that the order could not tolerate the payment of a ransom, particularly because such an act would fly in the face of all that Fr Sinnott, known to all around as “Mick”, believed in.

“Mick is a man who has given his life for others and is a frugal man in terms of his own needs. I could never see him agreeing to money being spent on his behalf instead of being spent where he felt it should be rightfully spent, on those who need it more, such as children with disabilities,” said Fr O’Donoghue.

The kidnapping is the latest hostage crisis to grip the mostly Roman Catholic Philippines.

In Mindanao Muslim militants have been waging a decades-old separatist uprising against the army in which many thousands have died. Muslim extremists have been blamed for high-profile kidnappings, including priests and aid workers.

In the video, an unshaven Fr Sinnott appeals in a weak voice to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, to the Irish Government, to his fellow Columban missionaries and friends “who may have pity . . . to help so that I can get out of here as soon as possible”.

Yesterday was All Souls Day in the Philippines, a day on which people return to their villages to tend to the graves of relatives, and the streets were relatively calm. “There is a quiet about here today,” said Fr O’Donoghue.

Authorities believe the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Milf) is behind the abduction, although the organisation has denied this and said it was willing to help troops track down the kidnappers and recover the priest.

Meetings were ongoing between various negotiating teams and there were reports that senior Philippine government representatives including the secretary of industry were involved.

Senior Sinn Féin figure Gerry Kelly and former Downing Street chief of staff Jonathan Powell have also participated in behind-the-scenes talks in an attempt to secure Fr Sinnott’s release.

Gauging how the kidnap saga will end is difficult. Some close to the talks believe that it could all end very suddenly, while others believe it could drag on.

Philippine government press secretary Cerge Remonde said the government would not pay a ransom. “We will do everything to ensure his safe release. We will, however, stick to the international policy of paying no ransom,” he said.

The government was leaving it to the military, police and the local crisis management committee to work on the safe release of the missionary, he added. “Our security forces in co-ordination with local crisis management committee is in charge of the situation.”

-On behalf of the Irish Columbans Fr Pat Raleigh yesterday expressed a sense of relief at seeing the video of Fr Sinnott over the weekend, writes Patsy McGarry. It was also a relief to the priest's family, he said. "Even if it was made nine days beforehand, he looks relatively well," he said.

“The outpouring of support all over the world has been very gratifying and we would like to express our appreciation for that,” he continued. There had also been “tremendous solidarity between Christians and Muslims in the area where he was kidnapped.” As regards the ransom demand, Fr Raleigh said “the church doesn’t pay ransoms”.

'Help me so I can get out of here'

In the video released at the weekend, Fr Michael Sinnott held up a copy of the Inquirer, a leading newspaper in the Philppines. An unseen accomplice assisted him in holding the paper which was dated Thursday, October 22nd.

In his video message Fr Sinnott said: "This is my statement of Saturday, October 24th, 2009. I Fr Mick Sinnott, am writing this with a small red Parker ballpoint pen given to me by Corazon Mendoza (well known for her long service to Columban parishes in the Philippines and a close friend of Fr Sinnott's).

"I was kidnapped on Sunday October 11th around 7.30pm. I am told that the one who is the leader of the group who kidnapped me is Abu Jandal. He is asking for a ransom of two million US dollars.

"I ask the help, firstly, of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the Philippine and Irish governments and my companions in the Society of St Columban, and those other persons who may have pity . . . to help me so that I can get out of here as soon as possible. We are living here in the open in difficult circumstances. I am still in good health even if I haven't full medicines. That is all." Patsy McGarry