British diplomats continue Norman Kember search
-09/01/06
In the wake of the good news
British diplomats continue Norman Kember search
-09/01/06
In the wake of the good news about the freeing of French humanitarian worker Roger Planche over the weekend, British diplomats are maintaining the search for Norman Kember, who was taken hostage with three other peace workers by an unknown militant group in Iraq of 26 November.
A report in todayís London Times newspaper says that they had hoped a fresh plea from Dr Kemberís wife, Pat aged 72, broadcast on Arab satellite television, might persuade the kidnappers to offer some evidence that the four members of the Christian Peacemaker Team were still alive.
Last night a Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: ìWe are doing all we can to engage the hostage-takers in a dialogue, and it is impossible to say why they wonít respond.î
Yesterday, as reported on Ekklesia, Anas Altikriti, who has been seeking Dr Kemberís release on behalf of the Muslim Association of Britain, told the BBC that he was considering returning to Iraq to keep the momentum going.
The situation regarding kidnapping in the country is mixed. Around 200 identified Iraqis and 40 foreigners are being held at the moment. An American journalist was abducted on Saturday, allegedly by Al Qaeda.
Last month the Islamic Army in Iraq, believed to be Saddam Hussein loyalists, said they had killed an American businessman, Roger Schutz. But more hopefully four people have been freed lately, including a German archaeologist, a Cypriot, a Lebanese engineer, and now aid worker Planche aged 52.
It is unclear at the moment how Mr Planche was released. There have been some reports that he escaped his captors, and others that they abandoned him near Abu Ghraib ñ site of the notorious prison.
Christian Peacemaker Teams are renewing efforts to have their four colleagues released through ëShine the Lightí, an initiative focussing on a White House vigil and a request to talk to President Bush about Iraq.
There are plans that the latest campaign to free the captives, achieve justice for detainees and end the US-led military presence will be spread internationally.
Vigils for the men have also continued in Canada, New Zealand and London, England. In Birmingham 100 people took part in a gathering in the city centre, focussing especially on Norman Kember.
The Rev John Johansen-Berg of the Fellowship of Reconciliation said in Birmingham: ìWe appreciate the widespread support and prayer for him across the varied Christian denominations and many religions. We are deeply moved by the numerous Muslim voices calling for the release of Norman and his companions.î
He continued: ìThese appeals have included many from the Palestinian community who view the Peacemaker Team as standing alongside them. We continue to hope and wait for Norman to be released to continue his work for peace.î
Al-Jazeera, viewed across the Muslim world, has aired the latest appeal by Pat Kember in Arabic a number of times. It has also recently published an interview with a friend of abductee Tom Fox.
[Also on Ekklesia: Updates: FaithInSociety; Muslim envoy may return to Iraq for CPT four 08/01/06; Release of French engineer brings Iraq hostage hope 08/01/06 (including complete index of related stories on CPT captives); Journalist kidnapped in Iraq as friends pray for peace workers 07/01/06; Birmingham inter-faith vigil for Kember and Iraq peace workers 06/01/06; Norman Kember’s wife in new TV appeal to Iraq captors 06/01/06; Muslim envoy to Iraq returns as al-Jazeera publicizes mercy pleas; UK envoy remains hopeful on Iraq captives; New appeal for release of Iraq peace workers; British Muslims in fresh plea for Norman Kember; Sooden family know nothing of Iraq negotiator abduction claim; Fears ‘unfounded’ over Iraq hostage negotiator; Cardinal joins pleas for Iraq peace workers; Norman Kember’s wife pleads for his life]
British diplomats continue Norman Kember search
-09/01/06
In the wake of the good news about the freeing of French humanitarian worker Roger Planche over the weekend, British diplomats are maintaining the search for Norman Kember, who was taken hostage with three other peace workers by an unknown militant group in Iraq of 26 November.
A report in today’s London Times newspaper says that they had hoped a fresh plea from Dr Kember’s wife, Pat aged 72, broadcast on Arab satellite television, might persuade the kidnappers to offer some evidence that the four members of the Christian Peacemaker Team were still alive.
Last night a Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: ‘We are doing all we can to engage the hostage-takers in a dialogue, and it is impossible to say why they won’t respond.’
Yesterday, as reported on Ekklesia, Anas Altikriti, who has been seeking Dr Kember’s release on behalf of the Muslim Association of Britain, told the BBC that he was considering returning to Iraq to keep the momentum going.
The situation regarding kidnapping in the country is mixed. Around 200 identified Iraqis and 40 foreigners are being held at the moment. An American journalist was abducted on Saturday, allegedly by Al Qaeda.
Last month the Islamic Army in Iraq, believed to be Saddam Hussein loyalists, said they had killed an American businessman, Roger Schutz. But more hopefully four people have been freed lately, including a German archaeologist, a Cypriot, a Lebanese engineer, and now aid worker Planche aged 52.
It is unclear at the moment how Mr Planche was released. There have been some reports that he escaped his captors, and others that they abandoned him near Abu Ghraib – site of the notorious prison.
Christian Peacemaker Teams are renewing efforts to have their four colleagues released through ëShine the Light’, an initiative focussing on a White House vigil and a request to talk to President Bush about Iraq.
There are plans that the latest campaign to free the captives, achieve justice for detainees and end the US-led military presence will be spread internationally.
Vigils for the men have also continued in Canada, New Zealand and London, England. In Birmingham 100 people took part in a gathering in the city centre, focussing especially on Norman Kember.
The Rev John Johansen-Berg of the Fellowship of Reconciliation said in Birmingham: ‘We appreciate the widespread support and prayer for him across the varied Christian denominations and many religions. We are deeply moved by the numerous Muslim voices calling for the release of Norman and his companions.’
He continued: ‘These appeals have included many from the Palestinian community who view the Peacemaker Team as standing alongside them. We continue to hope and wait for Norman to be released to continue his work for peace.’
Al-Jazeera, viewed across the Muslim world, has aired the latest appeal by Pat Kember in Arabic a number of times. It has also recently published an interview with a friend of abductee Tom Fox.
[Also on Ekklesia: Updates: FaithInSociety; Muslim envoy may return to Iraq for CPT four 08/01/06; Release of French engineer brings Iraq hostage hope 08/01/06 (including complete index of related stories on CPT captives); Journalist kidnapped in Iraq as friends pray for peace workers 07/01/06; Birmingham inter-faith vigil for Kember and Iraq peace workers 06/01/06; Norman Kember’s wife in new TV appeal to Iraq captors 06/01/06; Muslim envoy to Iraq returns as al-Jazeera publicizes mercy pleas; UK envoy remains hopeful on Iraq captives; New appeal for release of Iraq peace workers; British Muslims in fresh plea for Norman Kember; Sooden family know nothing of Iraq negotiator abduction claim; Fears ‘unfounded’ over Iraq hostage negotiator; Cardinal joins pleas for Iraq peace workers; Norman Kember’s wife pleads for his life]