Hostage’s Wife Satisfied With Clinton’s Effort Jane Schelly, Wife Of Spokane Man Held By Muslim Separatists In Kashmir, Attends Signing Of Anti-Terrorism Bill

President Clinton is aware of the kidnapping in India of Spokane psychologist Donald Hutchings and the government is doing everything possible to win his release, Hutchings’ wife said Wednesday.

Jane Schelly attended the ceremony where Clinton signed legislation giving federal authorities $1 billion worth of additional tools to fight terrorism at home and abroad.

“I was able to speak to the president regarding my husband who is being held in Kashmir,” Schelly told reporters afterward.

Clinton was aware of the facts of the case, said the Spokane elementary school physical education teacher. She was one of a number of victims of terrorist attacks present at the White House when Clinton signed the bill.

Schelly and her husband, a psychologist who works with victims of serious brain injuries, are experienced mountaineers. They were hiking in Kashmir last July with other Western tourists when they were captured by a little-known Muslim separatist group, Al Faran. Schelly and three other women tourists were released the next day.

Schelly said she is satisfied the president and the government are doing all they can to secure the release of her husband and three other Western hostages kidnapped by Muslim separatists nine months ago.

“They’ve done a very, very good job of staying in touch with me,” she said.

“The most difficult thing about this situation is just waiting and finding the thing that will bring him home,” Schelly said.

She said she supports the policy of not negotiating with terrorists. She also said she has no reason to think a break is imminent.

“I don’t set my heart for any particular day,” she said. “I just feel comfortable enough that some day he’s going to be returned to us, and I hope it’s safe and soon.”

Besides Hutchings, 42, the captives are Keith Mangan, 33, of Middlesbrough, England; Paul Wells, 23, of London; and Dirk Hasert, 26, of Erfurt, Germany.

In August, the kidnappers decapitated a fifth hostage, Hans Christian Ostro, 27, of Oslo, Norway.

The previously unknown Al Faran group kidnapped the tourists last July to draw attention to its campaign for independence from India.

Al Faran members want the Indian government to free 15 of their jailed comrades.

, DataTimes