Eight of the 19 released so far. More are promised.
The Taliban is apparently releasing the South Korean Christian aid workers a few at a time. The Associated Press reports:
The first group of three women were released in the village of Qala-e-Kazi. Several hours later, four women and one man were released in a desert close to Shah Baz, said the reporter, who witnessed both hand-overs. None of the eight said anything to reporters.
It is remarkable that the Taliban agreed to terms that require no additional effort by anyone. (There are no news reports of any ransom being paid.) It's almost a happy ending. But the kidnappers have killed two of the Christian aid workers to prove they were serious about their demand for a prisoner exchange.
So is the freeing of the hostages today a testimony to the power of face-to-face negotiations with terrorists? Or is it testimony the power of not negotiating with them? Both forces were at play here: The Korean government held the talks, but had no power to meet the Taliban demands. Those who could release military prisoners -- the U.S. and Afghanistan governments -- refused to consider the possibility. It looks to me like this resolution came about precisely because the South Korean government was talking face-to-face (giving the Taliban something they wanted even more than a prisoner exchange: an air of legitimacy) and because the South Koreans couldn't really do anything.
The other key factor in the freeing of the hostages was internal division within the Taliban. There were many within the group, as well as from key Islamic leaders outside the group, who criticized the kidnapping of women.
Posted by Ted Olsen on August 29, 2007 6:31AM
Comments
DEAR SIR;
I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE HOATAGES ARE RELEASED FROM THE TABLIAN.
BUT I AM REALLY SURPRISED TO SEE VERY LITTLE OPEN REACTONS TO THE CRISIS FROM THE KOREAN CHRISTIANS IN THE UNITED STATES.
THEY DO NOT SEEM TO HAVE A SOLIDARITY AS CHRISTIAN BROTHES AN DSISTERS. SO CALLED CERTAIN MISSION WORKS SEEM TO BE LIKE A HEDONISTIC ADVENTAURE TO SASISFY ONE'S EGO WITHOUT REAL EXPRESS MEANING OF WHAT JESUS CHRIST URGED US TO DO OTHERS.
IMAGINE WHEN THE DANISH CARTOONIST PUBLISHED THE CARTOONS ON A SMALL NEWSPAPER HOW THE MOSLEMS OF THE WORLD REACTED WITH HOSTILITIES TO THEM? MANY OF THEM NEVER SAW ANY OF THE CARTOONS.
WHAT CHRISITANS DO THINK ABOUT WHEN THEIR NEIGHBORS SUFFER IN TALIBAN HANDS?
WHOULDN'T WE NEED TO REEXAMINE OUR STATE OF FAITH, ESPEICALLY THE PROFEERIONSL CLERGIES.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL
CHAE S SONE
Posted by: chae s. sone at August 29, 2007
We have been praying to St. Therese of Lisieux for her intercession that these hostages be freed. Thanks be to God!
Posted by: M.R. at August 29, 2007
THANK GOD THE KOREAN HOSTAGES ARE BEING RELEASED SAFELY.THAT IS WHAT
MATTERS MOST, EVEN THOUGH IT APPEARS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN VERY LITTLE CLAMOUR FROM CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS QUARTERS ABOUT THEIR RELEASE.
I THINK IT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY MANY THAT THEY(KOREANS HOSTAGES) WERE AID WORKERS RATHER THAN MISSIONARIES.THOUGH THIS SUPPOSITION IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THEIR NOT BEEN SHOWN EXPRESSIVE(OPEN) LOVE-
I BELIEVE ALOT OF US PRAYED FOR THEM.
LET'S CONTINUE PRAYING FOR THEM ESPECIALLY THOSE ONE THAT R STILL IN THE HANDS OF THE TALIBANS.
ONE LOVE, MAY GOD HELP US
Posted by: JOHNS I at August 30, 2007
Praise be unto The Lord Our God, who get all the glory and honor
for these releases of our brothers and sisters in Christ. I feel
we should continue to humble ourselves under the mighty majestic
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We're not to resort to petty remarks of whether the Korean Christians in America are openly expressing their
gratitude or not, whether jumped in front the cameras/media,
or whether they worshipped and thanked God in private for hearing our prayers. This is all that matters. We as Christians of the Western World must be reminded not to be too high-minded and judgemental as "Christians", we are all
brothers and sisters in the faith, in Christ we live,we move, and have our very being, according to God's word we are supposed to be
one in Christ. So as far as I'm concerned let us remember John 3
and Matthew 16:24,.and continue to thank God for His Grace and Mercy. And to the person who posted about prayers offered to the St.
The Word of God early warned us and commanded us, "Thou shall have
no other God's before me",
Thank-you
Posted by: Janice Mattress at August 30, 2007
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