Doctors Deliver Medicine to Korean Hostages in Afghanistan
Afghan doctors delivered medicines on Sunday for 21 South Koreans kidnapped by Taliban rebels in Afghanistan more than two weeks ago.
...
[and]
Taliban Weigh Hostage Fate
Taliban leaders are deciding what to do with 21 Korean hostages after Afghan President Hamid Karzai and U.S. President George Bush ruled out making any concessions to free them, one of the kidnappers said on Tuesday.
...
[and]
The DHIMMI reactions of Western Churches when it comes to the killings of Christians, in particular to the killings of these South Korean Christians:
Killing Korean Christians
By Mark Tooley
...
“As negotiations between the Taliban and the South Korean government continue, we pray for the immediate release of those being held, for their reunion with their families and for true peace in Afghanistan. We pray also for the Afghan President Hamid Karzai, that through his help, negotiations may be strengthened.“
The WCC pronouncement is tepid and refers to the “negotiations” between the Taliban killers and the South Korean government almost as though it were a labor contract at issue. When Christians are being brutalized specifically because of their faith in Jesus Christ, might not church officials, even those based in Geneva, be a little more spiritually expressive?
After two millennia of martyrs and persecution, the Christian Church is not inexperienced as a victim of targeted brutality. These latest outrages by Islamist fanatics in Afghanistan might merit at least a Scripture citation and some bold words of divinely-inspired encouragement. Instead, the WCC spoke like a low level U.S. State Department official who is working the night shift.
Islamist murder, especially of Christians, is an uncomfortable topic for many Western church officials, who have invested decades in interfaith dialogue and apologies for Western and Christian misdeeds from centuries past. In truth, the WCC and other left church groups probably agree with the Taliban that South Korea should withdraw from cooperation with U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Of course, they do not condone the Taliban’s “violence.” But neither are they willing morally to differentiate between the Taliban’s violence and the actions of U.S. and other Western forces in Afghanistan that are attempting to subdue the Taliban.
The mercurial politics and convoluted theology of Western church officials contrasts with the simple faith that transported the Korean Christians to Afghanistan. Their suffering may not deeply touch politically correct hearts in the West. But their suffering is heard in far more important quarters, on earth, and above.
Pertinent Links:
1) Doctors Deliver Medicine to Korean Hostages in Afghanistan
2) Taliban Weigh Hostage Fate
3) Killing Korean Christians
Showing posts with label south korea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label south korea. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Thursday, August 02, 2007
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - SOUTH KOREA/AFGHANISTAN: KOREAN ABDUCTEES HAVE BEEN DIVIDED AMONGST 9 VILLAGES & ARE MOVED FREQUENTLY
'Hostages Separated in Nine Villages'
By Jung Sung-ki
The 21 South Korean hostages in Afghanistan are being held in small groups nine villages of Ghazni Province and have been moved to different places frequently, the director of the country's spy agency said Wednesday.
In a meeting with lawmakers of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee in Seoul, Kim Man-bok, director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), said the hostages were kidnapped by the ``Abdullah Group'' based in the Qarabagh district of the central province.
Kim said the militant group consists of 150 members and Taliban militants from Pakistan and locals are backing the group. The group is believed to be one of the hawkish among the Taliban, he added.
He said neither the Afghan government nor U.S.-led coalition forces plan to conduct rescue operations.
The government has reiterated it is opposed to any rescue operation whether conducted by U.S.-led coalition forces or Korean troops, fearing that it could cost the lives of the remaining hostages.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) 'Hostages Separated in Nine Villages'
By Jung Sung-ki
The 21 South Korean hostages in Afghanistan are being held in small groups nine villages of Ghazni Province and have been moved to different places frequently, the director of the country's spy agency said Wednesday.
In a meeting with lawmakers of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee in Seoul, Kim Man-bok, director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), said the hostages were kidnapped by the ``Abdullah Group'' based in the Qarabagh district of the central province.
Kim said the militant group consists of 150 members and Taliban militants from Pakistan and locals are backing the group. The group is believed to be one of the hawkish among the Taliban, he added.
He said neither the Afghan government nor U.S.-led coalition forces plan to conduct rescue operations.
The government has reiterated it is opposed to any rescue operation whether conducted by U.S.-led coalition forces or Korean troops, fearing that it could cost the lives of the remaining hostages.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) 'Hostages Separated in Nine Villages'
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
DAR AL HARB - SOUTH KOREA: THE DHIMMIFIED SOUTH KOREANS INCREASE SECURITY FOR MOSLEMS BECAUSE THEY FEAR A BACKLASH
Security Bolstered for Muslims
By Kim Tae-jong
Police have beefed up security for Muslims living in Korea out of fear over a backlash on Islamic people following the killing of the second Korean hostage Monday night.
Six policemen were dispatched to the Seoul Central Mosque in Yongsan, the biggest mosque in the nation, with 20 on standby around the area.
A Seoul police officer said it is a precautionary measure against a possible retaliation against Muslims. He added that so far Muslims have never been exposed to attacks here.
But the Korea Muslim Foundation's official Web site was inundated with threatening messages and has been temporarily shut down.
On July 29, a drunken man in his 40s visited a mosque in Busan and raged around breaking windows, before he was whisked away by policemen.
The mosque in Seoul suffered from a series of threatening phone calls by furious Koreans.
``Without precautionary protective measures here, we are not so sure about our safety,'' an official from the Seoul Central Mosque said. ``But so far, there hasn't been any accident.''
He hoped Muslims in Korea, who also pray for the safe return of the Korean captives, should not be a target for any terror due to the abduction.
But as the anger on terrorists can lead to tragic incidents such as violent attacks on innocent Muslims in Korea, the police and Muslim communities have taken extra precautions.
In June 2004, when a Korean was abducted and executed in Iraq, a 29-year-old man carrying a knife burst into the Seoul Central Mosque in an attempt to harm worshippers.
It is estimated that there are some 100,000 Muslims living in Korea, and about 70 to 80 percent of them are foreigners.
Pertinent Links:
1) Security Bolstered for Muslims
By Kim Tae-jong
Police have beefed up security for Muslims living in Korea out of fear over a backlash on Islamic people following the killing of the second Korean hostage Monday night.
Six policemen were dispatched to the Seoul Central Mosque in Yongsan, the biggest mosque in the nation, with 20 on standby around the area.
A Seoul police officer said it is a precautionary measure against a possible retaliation against Muslims. He added that so far Muslims have never been exposed to attacks here.
But the Korea Muslim Foundation's official Web site was inundated with threatening messages and has been temporarily shut down.
On July 29, a drunken man in his 40s visited a mosque in Busan and raged around breaking windows, before he was whisked away by policemen.
The mosque in Seoul suffered from a series of threatening phone calls by furious Koreans.
``Without precautionary protective measures here, we are not so sure about our safety,'' an official from the Seoul Central Mosque said. ``But so far, there hasn't been any accident.''
He hoped Muslims in Korea, who also pray for the safe return of the Korean captives, should not be a target for any terror due to the abduction.
But as the anger on terrorists can lead to tragic incidents such as violent attacks on innocent Muslims in Korea, the police and Muslim communities have taken extra precautions.
In June 2004, when a Korean was abducted and executed in Iraq, a 29-year-old man carrying a knife burst into the Seoul Central Mosque in an attempt to harm worshippers.
It is estimated that there are some 100,000 Muslims living in Korea, and about 70 to 80 percent of them are foreigners.
Pertinent Links:
1) Security Bolstered for Muslims
Sunday, July 29, 2007
DAR AL HARB - SOUTH KOREA: MOSLEMS ARE NOT TO BLAME - - - VEGANS MUST BE DOING THE KILLING THAN
`Muslims Should Not Be Blamed'
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
The families of the hostages kidnapped by Taliban in Afghanistan urged people not to despise Muslims or Islamic culture over the incident that has already seen the death of one man.
Cha Sung-min, the representative of the group of captives' families, Saturday said that there had been bomb threats to mosques or Muslim-related organizations. He said that the families feel responsible for the hatred in the country, and that people other than the kidnappers are not responsible for the tragedy.
Cha said that the families ask for Koreans to not wrongfully accuse people who just happened to be of the same faith as the kidnappers.
``Just like the 23 volunteers, we, the family members, all love Muslims truly,'' Cha said. ``And we do not want any Islamic people to suffer from the tragedy.''
The Muslims in Korea also sought for the release of the hostages by urging fellow Muslims in the world for help. AbdulRazik Shon, head of the Korea Muslim Federation, made a statement in Korean, English, and Arabic praying for the hostages' safe return.
He said that what their religion aims for is world peace and that the abduction is a political one that has nothing to do with their faith. He also said that he believes all the negotiations will go well and that all would return home safely.
The leader of the religious group in Korea said that there had been constant threats or prank calls to the federation after the Sept. 11 terror in the U.S.
The announcement from both religious circles came after the fact that the whole country is debating over whether the volunteers' initially going to the Central Asian country was right or not.
Some people have criticized the team for going to a place the government strongly recommended against going to and making the whole nation concerned over their abduction.
TV actor Cha In-pyo, however, defended the hostages while criticizing the netizens for being insensitive. The actor widely reputed as an honest Christian and enthusiastic philanthropist, posted on his Web page that the hostages went to Afghanistan for a good cause and that their being in critical situation should be something to be concerned about rather than criticized.
His words heated up the debate alongside the government's decision to ban travel to Afghanistan and Iran.
Meanwhile, the families of late Rev. Bae Hyung-kyu, who was killed by the Taliban last Wednesday, said that they would like to postpone any memorial service or ceremony till the rest of the hostages return to Korea safely.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) `Muslims Should Not Be Blamed'
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
The families of the hostages kidnapped by Taliban in Afghanistan urged people not to despise Muslims or Islamic culture over the incident that has already seen the death of one man.
Cha Sung-min, the representative of the group of captives' families, Saturday said that there had been bomb threats to mosques or Muslim-related organizations. He said that the families feel responsible for the hatred in the country, and that people other than the kidnappers are not responsible for the tragedy.
Cha said that the families ask for Koreans to not wrongfully accuse people who just happened to be of the same faith as the kidnappers.
``Just like the 23 volunteers, we, the family members, all love Muslims truly,'' Cha said. ``And we do not want any Islamic people to suffer from the tragedy.''
The Muslims in Korea also sought for the release of the hostages by urging fellow Muslims in the world for help. AbdulRazik Shon, head of the Korea Muslim Federation, made a statement in Korean, English, and Arabic praying for the hostages' safe return.
He said that what their religion aims for is world peace and that the abduction is a political one that has nothing to do with their faith. He also said that he believes all the negotiations will go well and that all would return home safely.
The leader of the religious group in Korea said that there had been constant threats or prank calls to the federation after the Sept. 11 terror in the U.S.
The announcement from both religious circles came after the fact that the whole country is debating over whether the volunteers' initially going to the Central Asian country was right or not.
Some people have criticized the team for going to a place the government strongly recommended against going to and making the whole nation concerned over their abduction.
TV actor Cha In-pyo, however, defended the hostages while criticizing the netizens for being insensitive. The actor widely reputed as an honest Christian and enthusiastic philanthropist, posted on his Web page that the hostages went to Afghanistan for a good cause and that their being in critical situation should be something to be concerned about rather than criticized.
His words heated up the debate alongside the government's decision to ban travel to Afghanistan and Iran.
Meanwhile, the families of late Rev. Bae Hyung-kyu, who was killed by the Taliban last Wednesday, said that they would like to postpone any memorial service or ceremony till the rest of the hostages return to Korea safely.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) `Muslims Should Not Be Blamed'
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - SOUTH KOREA/AFGHANISTAN: ONE OF 23 SOUTH KOREAN HOSTAGES HAS BEEN KILLED, SO SAYETH THE TALIBAN
Taleban 'kill' S Korean hostage
A Taleban spokesman in Afghanistan says the group has killed one of 23 South Korean hostages it is holding.
The spokesman said the male captive was shot dead because the Afghan authorities had refused to release imprisoned Taleban fighters.
A BBC correspondent in Kabul says there has been no confirmation of the claim.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Taleban 'kill' S Korean hostage
A Taleban spokesman in Afghanistan says the group has killed one of 23 South Korean hostages it is holding.
The spokesman said the male captive was shot dead because the Afghan authorities had refused to release imprisoned Taleban fighters.
A BBC correspondent in Kabul says there has been no confirmation of the claim.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Taleban 'kill' S Korean hostage
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - SOUTH KOREA/AFGHANISTAN: SOUTH KOREANS ENGAGE IN DIRECT TALKS WITH THE TALIBAN - $$$ TRIBUTE DEMANDS UKNOWN AT THIS TIME
S.Korean talks with Taliban raise hostage hopes
by Nasrat Shoaib
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- South Korean officials held their first direct talks with the Taliban Tuesday as the clock ticked toward a sundown deadline for the lives of 23 Korean hostages held in Afghanistan.
The apparently positive development came as the Islamic rebel group said that a German captive who was abducted separately from the Korean Christian aid workers was very sick and was drifting in and out of consciousness.
The rebel group has called for both Berlin and Seoul to pull their troops out of the war-battered country and for the release of 33 insurgents held prisoner by Afghan authorities in exchange for the hostages.
"We've established direct contact with the South Korean delegation through tribal elders," Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said by telephone from an unknown location. "We hope this time the talks have a result," he said.
A deadline set by the Taliban, after which they say they will start killing the South Koreans, expires at 1430 GMT. The rebels, remnants of the hardline regime toppled by US-led troops in 2001, have already extended it twice.
The delegation led by the South Korean ambassador to Kabul arrived Tuesday in the southern province of Ghazni where the hostages are being held, said provincial police chief Alishah Ahmadzai, who was also involved in the talks.
Seoul sent a crisis team into the country Sunday to push for the release of its captive nationals, most of whom are female.
Nearly 1,000 Afghans slammed the Taliban for the "un-Islamic" abductions in a protest in the southern town of Ghazni, the provincial capital.
"We demand that the Taliban free the hostages as soon as possible. Their acts are against our beloved Islam and our respected culture," said one demonstrator, Mir Mahfooz.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) S.Korean talks with Taliban raise hostage hopes
by Nasrat Shoaib
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- South Korean officials held their first direct talks with the Taliban Tuesday as the clock ticked toward a sundown deadline for the lives of 23 Korean hostages held in Afghanistan.
The apparently positive development came as the Islamic rebel group said that a German captive who was abducted separately from the Korean Christian aid workers was very sick and was drifting in and out of consciousness.
The rebel group has called for both Berlin and Seoul to pull their troops out of the war-battered country and for the release of 33 insurgents held prisoner by Afghan authorities in exchange for the hostages.
"We've established direct contact with the South Korean delegation through tribal elders," Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said by telephone from an unknown location. "We hope this time the talks have a result," he said.
A deadline set by the Taliban, after which they say they will start killing the South Koreans, expires at 1430 GMT. The rebels, remnants of the hardline regime toppled by US-led troops in 2001, have already extended it twice.
The delegation led by the South Korean ambassador to Kabul arrived Tuesday in the southern province of Ghazni where the hostages are being held, said provincial police chief Alishah Ahmadzai, who was also involved in the talks.
Seoul sent a crisis team into the country Sunday to push for the release of its captive nationals, most of whom are female.
Nearly 1,000 Afghans slammed the Taliban for the "un-Islamic" abductions in a protest in the southern town of Ghazni, the provincial capital.
"We demand that the Taliban free the hostages as soon as possible. Their acts are against our beloved Islam and our respected culture," said one demonstrator, Mir Mahfooz.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) S.Korean talks with Taliban raise hostage hopes
Friday, July 20, 2007
DAR AL ISLAM - AFGHANISTAN: MOSLEM JIHADISTS ABUCT 23 CHRISTIANS - - - DOES TORTURE, CRUCIFICTION & BEHEADING AWAIT THEM?!?
Taliban kidnap 23 Christian missionaries from Afghan bus
Taliban insurgents have kidnapped 23 Korean Christians from a bus in Afghanistan, the biggest group of foreigners seized so far in the militant campaign to oust the government and its Western backers.
Taliban fighters have increasingly turned away from classic guerrilla warfare and instead have taken up what Afghan officials call "terror tactics" - kidnapping, suicide attacks and roadside bombs.
"Twenty-three Korean citizens, 15 women and five men, were very carelessly travelling in a chartered bus from Kabul to Kandahar yesterday, on the way to Kandahar their bus was stopped by armed men ... and they took them away," said Interior Minister spokesman Zemari Bashari.
He said the incident happened in the Qarabagh district of Ghazni province, some 175 km (110 miles) south of Kabul.
"We are still investigating which organisation they were with, and why they were travelling to Kandahar," he said.
The Taliban said they had seized 18 Koreans, 15 men and three women.
"They are safe with us, we are investigating them and our demands and reaction will be announced later." said Taliban spokesman Said Yousuf Ahmadi by telephone from an undisclosed location.
Earlier, local police said the bus was travelling from the southern city of Kandahar to the capital Kabul.
...
Pertinet Links:
1) Taliban kidnap 23 Christian missionaries from Afghan bus
Taliban insurgents have kidnapped 23 Korean Christians from a bus in Afghanistan, the biggest group of foreigners seized so far in the militant campaign to oust the government and its Western backers.
Taliban fighters have increasingly turned away from classic guerrilla warfare and instead have taken up what Afghan officials call "terror tactics" - kidnapping, suicide attacks and roadside bombs.
"Twenty-three Korean citizens, 15 women and five men, were very carelessly travelling in a chartered bus from Kabul to Kandahar yesterday, on the way to Kandahar their bus was stopped by armed men ... and they took them away," said Interior Minister spokesman Zemari Bashari.
He said the incident happened in the Qarabagh district of Ghazni province, some 175 km (110 miles) south of Kabul.
"We are still investigating which organisation they were with, and why they were travelling to Kandahar," he said.
The Taliban said they had seized 18 Koreans, 15 men and three women.
"They are safe with us, we are investigating them and our demands and reaction will be announced later." said Taliban spokesman Said Yousuf Ahmadi by telephone from an undisclosed location.
Earlier, local police said the bus was travelling from the southern city of Kandahar to the capital Kabul.
...
Pertinet Links:
1) Taliban kidnap 23 Christian missionaries from Afghan bus
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
VIRGINIA SHOOTER IDENTIFIED ! ! !
CHO SEUNG-HUI
Virginia Tech Killer Identified
By RICHARD ESPOSITO and DAVID SCHOETZ
We now know the identity of the killer at Virginia Tech.
He is Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old resident alien of the United States, as first reported by ABC News.
Cho is a South Korean national, a Virginia Tech senior majoring in English and the man who killed 33 people — inlcuding himself — on the Virginia Tech campus Monday.
Sources tell ABC News that Cho killed two people in a dorm room, returned to his own dorm room where he re-armed and left a "disturbing note" before entering a classroom building on the other side of campus to continue his rampage.
Cho's identity has been confirmed with a positive fingerprint match on the guns used in the rampage and with immigration materials.
"Lab results confirm that one of the two weapons seized in Norris Hall was used in both shootings," Virigina Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum said at a press conference Tuesday morning.
At this time, police are not looking for a second shooter, however, they did not rule out the possibility that an accomplice may have been involved. Sources say Cho was carrying a backpack that contained receipts for a March purchase of a Glock 9 mm pistol. Witnesses had told authorities that the shooter was carrying a backpack. Police also said this morning that Cho had a .22 caliber pistol. Sections of chain similar to those used to lock the main doors at Norris Hall, the site of the second shooting that left 31 dead, were also found inside a Virginia Tech dormitory, sources confirmed to ABC News.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Virginia Tech Killer Identified
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
