Survivors of Maldivian Hostage Seizure Get Heroes’ Welcome

Eight survivors of a bloody hostage drama on the high seas that followed a failed coup returned to the Maldives today to heroes’ welcomes as details of their harrowing ordeal came to light.

In addition to the hostages, the Indian frigate Godavari brought back 65 mercenaries and two Maldivians to stand trial.

Hundreds of Maldivians climbed on walls and roofs to see the hostages return. “To us they really are heroes,” Ahmed Fauzee said. “We are just very happy to see them back here alive.”

The hostages, after being greeted by Maldive President Maumoon Adbul Gayoom and reunited with their families, were whisked away without talking to newsmen.

In the south Indian city of Trivandrum, where the wounded were being treated, word began to filter out of the harrowing ordeal undergone by the hostages on the Progress Light.

The freighter was seized by the Sri Lankan mercenaries early Friday to escape Male when their coup attempt failed. The Progress Light was shadowed across the Indian Ocean by Indian navy frigates until captured on Sunday by commandos landed from helicopters.

“Every time the Indian navy threatened to open fire, the hostages were brought on deck and lined up,” said Air Marshal G. Sen. “This happened about 20 times.”

Maldive Foreign Minister Fathulla Jameel said he had been told that the mercenaries killed two hostages in cold blood.

Maldive officials said 27 or 28 hostages were bundled aboard the 5,000-ton ship after it became obvious that the coup, which began last Thursday, had been thwarted.

Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi sent 1,600 troops in response to a plea by Gayoom, and the Progress Light was badly damaged by Indian fire as it slipped away from the Maldive capital. It capsized and sank Monday with no one on board.

The bodies of four hostages were found after the Progress Light was captured, and the officials said three or possibly four hostages were missing, presumed killed.