Bungled rescue draws online fire
11:08, August 24, 2010

Email | Print | Subscribe | Comments | Forum 
By Tuesday, nine Hong Kong tourists have been confirmed dead, and several others are seriously wounded. A bus with 21 Hong Kong tourists aboard was hijacked in the Philippine capital of Manila Monday morning. After negotiations, six hostages were freed. On Monday night, Philippine police launched a rescue operation that resulted in heavy casualties.
Chinese online commentators question why the police could not be more patient and waited longer to launch the attack against the lone hijacker. "The police were supposed to be receptive to requirements of the hijacker, and engage the assaulter longer in negotiations, while not take risks to launch a bungled rescue," said one commentator.
Another said that Philippine police were less considerate of safeguarding personal security of the hostages, and on-spot police command and liaison activities were just chaotic, revealing "poor quality of the police force".
And many claim that the police were not well-prepared for incident, and lacked tactics in coping with the hijacker, a disgruntled former police officer.
A commentator said that he just shook his head witnessing the live telecast, saying it was the worst, most awful police rescue act he has seen so far.
The Chinese government Monday strongly condemned the hostage-taking of Chinese tourists and demanded the Philippine government thoroughly investigate the incident.
By People's Daily Online
(Editor:张心意)

Related Reading
Philippine officials helping freed hostages to recover from traumatic captivity
Hostage incident won't hurt tourism sector: Philippine official
Gunmen kill South Korean national in Philippine capital region
Local police chief in S. Philippines killed in encounter with leftist rebels
Philippine rebels foresee no solution to conflict if nothing do with Constitution

Tibet poised to embrace even brighter future, 60 years after peaceful liberation
Chinese official calls for more language, culture exchanges with foreign countries
Senior Chinese leader calls for efforts to develop new energy
Central gov't delegation arrives in Lhasa for Tibet Peaceful Liberation Celebrations
China Southern Airlines sends charter flight carrying peacekeepers to Liberia

