Another Christian kidnapped...more details:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6952990.stm
Last Updated: Saturday, 18 August 2007, 21:44 GMT 22:44 UK
“German woman kidnapped in Kabul”
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A German woman has been kidnapped at gunpoint in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the first foreigner to be abducted in the city for more than two years.
The aid worker, who is in her 30s, works for a Christian organisation called Ora International.
She was abducted by gunmen while having lunch with her husband at a small restaurant in western Kabul.”
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2007/s07080154.htm
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Christian prayer warrior, estate owner and cash crop entrepreneur killed in Kerala
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
KERALA, INDIA (ANS) — A Christian estate owner was killed at Thathengalam, near Mannarghat in the Palakkad district of Kerala, India, on 17 August.
John Mathew, also known as Monachan, was a prayer warrior and cash crop entrepreneur.
According to Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service, John Mathew, 47, who was also known as Monachan of Pothukal Njettikkulam in Nilambur of Malappuram district, was killed in his farm house at Thathengalam on Thursday night.
His dead body was found at 7.30 on Friday morning on the floor inside the farm house. Both of his hands and legs were tied up. Mathew was staying alone at the house.
SVM News says it seems that whoever killed Mathew destroyed the door and entered into the house. Some kind of white powder was scattered on the verandah and around the house.
John Mathew has 12 acres of land in Thathengalam. He also has another 14 acres of land at the neighboring village called Anamooli. He was involved with cultivating rubber, pepper, coconut and other cash crops.
Deputy Superintendent of Police C.K. Ramachandran, Circle Inspector Suresh Babu, Sub Inspector Hussain, Addl. Sub Inspector Unnikrishnan are investigating the case, SVM News reported.
“From the first investigation we conclude the intention of murder was not robbery, because nothing found missing from the house. We can say nothing more until after the postmortem report,” C.K. Ramachandran, Deputy Superintendent of Police told Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.
Mathew leaves behind Joyamma, his widow and his children Shiju, Shinu and Preethi. They are living in Nilambur in Malappuram district. Shiju studies for mechanical engineering, Shinu for bio-medicine and Preeti is in IVth standard.
It was Mathew’s practice to stay with the family once a week only. The rest of his time was spent at his estate looking after the cultivation of the cash crops.
“Monachan was with us on last Saturday and Sunday,” his wife Joyamma told SVM News. “He was an active prayer warrior in the church and prayer group,” she continued.
Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) condemned the slaying of John Mathew. He asked the government to find out the murderers were and to arrest them immediately. “There must be some strong hands behind this Christian persecution,” Ciniraj said.
** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Lake Forest, California. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in September, 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.
** You may republish this story with proper attribution.
Thanks to a special freepmailer for pointing to these articles:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/08/116_8574.html
08-19-2007 17:21
“Hostage Talks End Fruitlessly”
By Emal Pashtunyar
Special to Korea Times
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “KABUL _ The second round of talks between Taliban militants and Korean officials ended without any significant progress Thursday when two released female hostages arrived in Seoul.
Their release was achieved as a result of the three days of face-to-face talks between the Korean delegation and the Taliban kidnappers _ the first direct interaction between the two sides.
Soon after the release of the two hostages, the Taliban announced suspension of any direct dialogue. Yet despite such claims, talks resumed a day later.”
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http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/08/113_8599.html
08-19-2007 22:55
“No New Deadline on Hostages’ Lives, Talks”
By Emal Pashtunyar
Special to Korea Times
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “KABUL _ Nineteen Korean nationals completed a month in captivity in Afghanistan, Sunday, as war-weary Afghans celebrated their 88th Independence Day.
Originally 23 volunteers were seized by a band of armed Taliban militants in the Qarabagh district of the country’s Ghazni Province, located some 90 miles south of this fortified capital of Afghanistan. Two male hostages were shot to death, while two women were freed.
The fate of the remaining hostages, who are awaiting some kind of breakthrough in drawn-out negotiations between their captors and Korean officials, still hangs in balance. “
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghan police freed a female German hostage from a Kabul neighborhood and arrested a group of kidnappers early Monday, an Interior Ministry spokesman said.
The 31-year-old aid worker was freed during a raid in the western part of the capital not far from the restaurant where she was seized Saturday while dining with her husband, Zemary Bashari said. The woman's husband was not abducted. "A group of kidnappers were arrested," Bashari said.
In Berlin, a spokeswoman for Germany's Foreign Ministry confirmed the woman was "in safety at the German Embassy" in Kabul.
Excerpted
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AFGHANISTAN?SITE=WBAL&SECTION=NATIONAL&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT