Can I open stuck rear hatch from inside?

The hatch is stuck shut. Where is the release for the rear hatch inside the van?

it got like this before when it was dropped closed. I finally got it open with the help of another person and I am always (well obviously NOT) very careful to let it down easy and just barely, gently push until I hear the first click. It always shows the 'door open' light on the dash, but it locks and unlocks with the button for locking/unlocking on the drivers/passengers' doors and with the keys even with the light on.

last week I lost my grip on it and it dropped closed. It has been stuck since then. There is a small black plastic plug down towards the bottom on the inside of the hatch. I took it off but don't know which way to dig, mess, and pokenbother.

Somebody online said there are two Phillips screwheads - one white above the other, a black one. I do not see those. I was not down at eye level though or maybe they aren't there on the 2000? Supposed to put the driver in the white one and turn it CW 1/4 turn and the hatch will open?

there appears to be a grey/tannish fabric just inside the plug hole. I stuck the driver through it and moved the driver around a little but without seeing the screwheads and without knowing in what direction to move the driver when I have it stuck in the hole, I stopped so as not to make things worse, and am now creating this epistle, hoping someone can help with this thing.

i have one more thing unrelated to the previous but I don't know if I am supposed to put it here. The short of it is, ever since I had the serpentine belt replaced, my cruise control doesn't turn on anymore. Is there something that could have come unhooked/been disconnected during that fix that I can hook back up? It would be so very wonderful to be able to use cruise control again. Maybe under the car? Maybe under the seats? Near the belt that was replaced. Thank you and please just ignore this last problem if it shouldn't have been here. Again, thank you. ~ S ~