APPEARANCE BY HOSTAGES IS PREDICTED

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00587R000100200077-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2011
• Sequence Number: 77
• Publication Date: September 30, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2011/08/31 : CIA-RDP91-00587R000100200077-7
ARTICLE AON PAGE
NEW YORK TIMES
30 September 1985
FILE ONLY
Appearance by Hostages Is Predicted
Special to The New York Timm
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Sept. 29 - An
anonymous caller who said he repre-
sented the Islamic Holy War organiza-
tion said today that the group would
hold, a news conference at which it
would produce some of the six Amer-
icans whom it is believed to be holding
hostage.
The caller, who telephoned a West-
ern news agency here, did not say when
or where such a news conference would
be held. But he hinted that. after the
conference the attitude of the kidnap-
pers toward their hostages would be
negative.
Release of clergyman Cited
"We also confirm to families of the
hostages, American public opinion and
world public opinion that as regards
what happens after this Period
American Government will assume
full responsibility for the lives of the
hostages," the caller said.
The message warned that if the de-
He caller said the release this month
of the Rev. Benjamin Weir was in-
tended to demonstrate "our good inten-
tion" and to give the United states Gov-
ernment "an opportunity which has
been extended."
Mr. Weir, a 61-year-old Presbyterian
minister, carried with him States a
message from his abductors in which
the Reagan Administration was called
on to bring pressure on Kuwait to free
17 prisoners who were convicted of tak-
ing part in bomb attacks there in
December 1981.
No deadline was mentioned then or in
the statement issued today.
The Holy War organization is be-
lieved to be still holding six Americans
who have disappeared in West Beirut,
the Moslem sector of the capital, over
the last 18 months. Most are known to
have been seized at gunpoint.
Some of Hostages Seen
The six are: William Buckley, a
political officer at the American Em-
bassy; the Rev. -Lawrence Martin
Jenco, a Roman Catholic priest; Peter
Kilburn, a librarian at the American
University of Beirut; Thomas M. Suth-
erland, the dean of agriculture at the
mands were not fulfilled soon, the kid-
nappers would execute the hostages
and kidnap other Americans.
There was no way to authenticate the
university; David P. Jacobsen, direc-
tor of the university hospital, and Terry
A. Anderson, the chief Middle East cor-
respondent of The Associated Press.
At a news conference in Washington
after his release, Mr. Weir said he had
seen Father Jenco, Mr. Sutherland,
Mr. Anderson and Mr.' Jacobsen, but
that he knew nothing about Mr. Buck-
ley and Mr. Kilburn.
The caller, who spoke in Arabic, said
"We are not enemies of the American
people but of the American policy that
is criminal against the oppressed peo-
plea."
The statement went on, "As for the
hostages with us, they will address
messages through a press conference
they will hold, to American public opin-
ion, the American Government and
American personalities and families."
It is not known where the hostages
are being held. News organizations
here have speculated that at least some
are detained at a former Lebanese
Army barracks near predominantly
Shiite city of Baalbek in the Bekaa
area, about 50 miles east of here.
Since their abduction, the hostages
Have not been seen by outsiders.
Approved For Release 2011/08/31 : CIA-RDP91-00587R000100200077-7