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All 19 Koreans could be released as soon as today
August 30, 2007
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Ten female Korean hostages and two males walked to freedom in three separate releases yesterday, ending 42 days of captivity in Afghanistan. The remaining seven could be released as soon as today. Their heads covered in shawls, three female hostages were freed around 5:15 p.m. Korean time, the first to go as part of an agreement with the Taliban to free all of the remaining 19 South Korean hostages in Afghanistan. About three hours later, the second group of five was handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The third group was released two hours later, Agence France-Press reported. The Foreign Ministry said hostages in the first two groups ― Ahn Hye-jin, Han Ji-young, Lee Jeung-ran, Ko Se-hoon, Lee Sun-young, Lee Ji-young, Lim Hyun-ju and Lyu Jung-hwa ― were healthy. The third group of four, including one male, was not immediately identified. The Taliban handed them to Red Cross officials through tribal elders. “It feels like a dream,” Kim Hyeong-im, Lee Jeung-ran’s mother, said at her home in Jeju. “I am so happy and thankful. I appreciate everyone who extended their help.” Shortly after the first release, Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Hee-yong said the South Korean government was doing its best to bring the remaining hostages home safely and quickly following Tuesday’s agreement between the Taliban and the South Korean government. Seoul agreed to pull out its troops and stop missionary work in Afghanistan in return for the releases. Qari Bashir, a Taliban negotiator, told Agence France-Presse last night the other seven will be freed today. The Taliban seized 23 hostages, most of them Christian volunteers from Saemmul Church in Bundang, south of Seoul, on July 19. Two of the males were killed during a period of deadlocked negotiations. Shim Jin-pyo, the father of one of the men killed, condemned the government and the church, saying he holds them responsible for his son’s death. “While taking people to a place like a war zone, [the church] did not say a word to the parents and the families,” said Shim, a South Gyeongsang provincial legislator and member of the Grand National Party. “The government also sent a special envoy, but it was not helpful. If the government had acted well in the beginning and not irritated the Taliban, my son would be alive.” Shim Sung-min was killed on July 31. The first breakthrough in the case came Aug. 13, when two female hostages were released after Seoul met face-to-face with the kidnappers. Yesterday, the first eight were taken to the U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team for checkups from South Korean medics, Seoul officials said. “When all of the hostages are released, we will bring them back to Korea together as soon as possible,” Blue House spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said yesterday. “As of now, we are planning to fly them here via a civilian airliner.” At a regular press briefing, Cheon said the kidnappers are also at risk when handing over the hostages. For that reason, the Roh administration will not disclose the time, location or other details about the upcoming releases. Cheon also dismissed the criticism that Seoul’s direct negotiation with the kidnappers violated the international community guideline not to negotiate with terrorists. “Saving the 23 hostages was the top priority, and it is a nation’s responsibility to act flexibly within the principles and traditions of international society,” Cheon said. “We did our best to this end. There is hardly an exception for other countries in similar situations, and we will confidently explain our position to the international community if there are any misunderstandings.” At Saemmul Church in Bundang, family members of the hostages celebrated together. Government officials “told us the released women were healthy,” said Cha Seong-min, who represents the families. “We were not told about the other hostages, though.” The 210 Korean troops in Afghanistan will also accelerate their steps to withdraw from the country, military officials in Seoul said yesterday. To keep the agreement with the Taliban, the procedure to withdraw the forces will begin next month. In December, the National Assembly extended the mandate for Korea’s Dongui and Dasan units for one year, thus the forces had been scheduled to return home by the end of this year. In November 2003, South Korea dispatched engineering and medical units to support allied forces and civilian residents of Afghanistan. The Korean troops are stationed inside Bagram Air Base, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the capital city of Kabul. The Korean forces brought only a few pieces of heavy industrial equipment, so their pullout from Afghanistan should be relatively simple, officials said. By Ser Myo-ja Staff Writer/ Chung Young-jin JoongAng Ilbo [myoja@joongang.co.kr] |
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