South Asia News
South Korea denies secret agreement with Taliban
Aug 31, 2007, 12:00 GMT
Seoul - The South Korean government on Friday dismissed speculation that it had paid ransom to Taliban rebels to secure the release of 19 hostages.
Aside from conditions for the release that were made public, there had been no 'secret agreement' with the Taliban, a South Korean government spokesman told journalists in Seoul.
He had been asked whether the radical Islamist group had received a ransom in exchange for the kidnapped aid workers.
Japan's Ashai Shimbun newspaper reported that the kidnappers had received a ransom of 2 million dollars. The newspaper quoted sources in Afghanistan. A local mediator was convinced that there would have been no other way of ending the hostage drama, while observers in Afghanistan assumed that Seoul had paid a high ransom.
The hostages were released in batches on Wednesday and Thursday. They were among a group of 23 Christian aid workers abducted on July 19 while travelling overland. Two hostages were killed by the Taliban when deadlines for their demands were not met, while two women were freed about two weeks ago.
The South Korean government on Thursday said it had agreed to withdraw its 200 soldiers from Afghanistan - which had already been decided before the kidnappings - by year's end.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
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It seems alone in the multi-national force in Afghanistan, only a non-western country has evolved to a point where civilized diplomacy has any place on its people's consciousness. Its a shame, for a western society so self-righteous in their 'moral high-ground' to denounce the only bit of civilized behavior left in a barbaric and primitive cycle of violence that is the middle-east.
I'm not denouncing those who oppose diplomacy, I'm just ashamed at how far behind western nations when it comes to modern, civilized and non-violent way of solving things.
I have a few observation:
1- what were 22 korean missionary doing in a country that has over 99% muslim population?
2- Why do people find it acceptable to kill Afghan civilians ( at least 300 people died in the last 2 months) from bombs at a height of over 30,000 feet, and we scream over 2 killed at a close range? Is one blood more expensive than the other?
3- Since when South Korea moved to the West?
4- Joe & Jesse both have the same mentality as Taleban, no acceptance of foreign people & ideology.
To CRUSADERS and their agents known as SADDAMIES IN IRAQ, Ladenistic ''MOJAHIDEEN'' and Taliban, it is easy to kill Muslims and get away with.
Muslims made so much fuss over killing Saddam, did any one ever say a word when he invade Iran at the behest of his mentors, USA, UK, And Europe and killed, hunderends of thousands in Iran? NO!
How about when he killed the ''KURD MUSLIMS'' in thousands with poisonous gas, supplied by America and UK? NO! NO!
How about when he gave sanctuary to non Muslims, when he attacked Kuwait, and US was ready to retaliate, did he kill the non Muslims? NO!
US, UK, Australia are the only three ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES countries in the world, how about their coalition to invade Iraq, and killing few hundered thousand more innocent Muslims, did any country who claim to have ''ISLAMIC STATE'' retaliate or even speak out?? NO! NOT AT ALL, ACTUALLY THOSE COUNTRIES RULED BY SELF PROCLAIMED MUSLIMS SUPPORTED THE KILLING OF MUSLIMS WITH THEIR MONEY AND MORAL SUPPORT!!
How about when Taliban killed Muslims in Afghanistan, or in Pakistan?
MUSLIM BLOOD IS SO CHEAP, the crusaders and their agents like Saddam of Iraq, Bin Laden, or Taliban can shed any time as much as they want to, THE ONLY PUNISHMENT IS WITH OUR LORD ALMIGHTY, WE SEEK JUSTICEFROM HIM ALONE.
The Taliban were executing women for reading. And yet there is still clear support for the Taliban in the Islamic world. If they were shooting men for reading - then the wider Muslim world would have been outraged. As it stands, as soon as the coalition forces, pushed the Taliban out into the hills and caves, people dug up their TV's, which they had hidden in the backyard and that they were not permitted to watch. Another thing the men did was to rush off to the barbershop, and get all their facial hair cut off that they were forced to wear under the Taliban.
Unfortunately there was an incident where a few girls were shot for going school the other day. You have to accuse the Muslim world of hypocrisy. Do they really want to be ruled under a government like the Taliban, or is it just 'okay' for those 'far off' Muslims, were the true horror of the Taliban form of justice can be tactfully overlooked.
Now, the Korea situation - was according to one Islamic guest on Aljeezera - a champion of interfaith dialogue – expressed support for the Taliban, and said they were acting only in defence of Afghanistan.
Let’s face it this type of Islam is dead, under the Taliban singing to your baby, is a crime, as music is not allowed. What Muslims want is a no-go area for everyone else, but they want to be able to spread Islam in the rest of the world. There are Muslims near us, trying to spread their message - you go up to have a chat, say something wrong, and the guy would be looking to bread-knife you. You will probably be handed a list of questions that you can ask, and anything outside of this will be seen as offensive and over the line, with only one punishment left.
To expect that non-Muslims will not venture into Islamic territory, to provide aid, spread another religious message, is a bit naïve. As Muslims are just people and so, are fair game and more religious diversity would probably be healthy for Islamic nations. Let’s see, so, there is no compulsion to join Islam, but there is a compulsion to remain Islamic. The Christians tried to control men’s minds and failed, the lesson learned that no one can compel men to do anything they don’t want to do, for ever. The control of Islam will be loosened on its people and it will never be the same.
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revenge should be the order of the dayAug 31st, 2007 - 12:48:40
Of course they paid a ransom. This is a very ancient practice and no kidnapping in the islamic world ends without death or money.
Now who is going to pay for the two who didn't make it out alive?
We continue to lose the propaganda war to these sub-humans.
The West just doesn't get it that the only way to deal with these scum is to be more ruthless than they are.
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