Weir Says Others Will Die If Kuwait Doesn’t Free 17

The Rev. Benjamin Weir said today that the terrorists who held him captive for 16 months are prepared to kidnap other Americans and to execute their remaining six U.S. hostages if their sole demand is not met--freedom for 17 prisoners in Kuwait.

He said he was given no time-table for action, but warned that the terrorists “are not willing to wait much longer.”

Weir said that before his release Saturday he saw four of the Americans--Terry Anderson, David Jacobsen, the Rev. Lawrence Jenco and Thomas Sutherland--and that they all appeared well.

As for the other two, Peter Kilburn and William Buckley, “I do not know anything about them,” he told a 50-minute news conference five days after his release.

‘Good Intentions’

The captors “have released me as a sign of their good intentions” and to convey the demand, which he said he did when he talked to President Reagan on Monday.

Reagan, he said, did not respond “in any specific way.”

Weir appeared fit and composed and spoke in a firm voice to reporters at the National Presbyterian Center.

The 61-year-old Presbyterian missionary said his captors were prepared to release the other Americans if their demand is met for freedom for the 17 accused truck bombers, who blew up parts of the U.S. Embassy and other facilities in Kuwait.

Weir said that he feels in good health both physically and mentally and that he “deeply resents the injustice of having been kidnaped.”

Solitary Confinement

He said he was held in solitary confinement for most of his captivity and his chief problem was boredom. He said he was treated with respect as a man of the clergy and fed a “simple Lebanese diet.”

Weir said he was suddenly released by his captors “just before midnight” on Saturday and immediately contacted the U.S. Embassy.

He said he arrived in Norfolk, Va., Monday night and agreed to remain secluded because of the possibility that “one or more” of those left behind might also be freed.

Weir said he feels there remains only a small “window of opportunity” for the safe release of the remaining six. “I fear that opportunity might not last long,” he said.

In addition, he said, if the terrorists’ demand is not met soon, “they are prepared to kidnap other Americans.” But while they “do not want to harm anyone,” they will “go so far as to proceed to execute their hostages if their demand is not met,” he said.

Meeting With Others

Weir said he was permitted for the first time to meet with the other four hostages on July 2. “It’s like Christmas coming on July 2, but unpredictably.”

Weir met privately after the news conference with the hostage families to share information he had on the four he had met.

He said he had not been given any detailed set of reasons for the taking of hostages but from conversations understood that his captors:

--”Were taking extreme, radical action to recover the 17 prisoners from Kuwait.”

--Are “very much opposed to the Israeli invasion of South Lebanon and the continuing effect spilling out from the occupation.”

--Are “angry and committed against U.S. policy in support of Israel.”

Little Syrian Influence

Weir said Syria apparently did not have great influence with the kidnapers, as “my captors said they would not listen to anything Syria had to say to them.”

Asked if felt he was released because of the publicity value to his captors from such an action, he said, “I presume I was released in order to have some impact on the American public through the American media.

“My captors did say that I was expected to make this message known to the U.S. government, and they assumed . . . that I would be exposed to the public media, that I would communicate this message through the media to the American people.”

He declined to answer when asked whether he thought the Reagan Administration was doing enough to gain the release of the hostages. He said he did not know what the Administration had done.

He said, “I assume the United States government is concerned.”