Militias pressuring kidnappers of Alta. reporter

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Militias pressuring kidnappers of Alta. reporter

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CTV News Video

CTV News Channel: Alan Bell, security analyst

It appears there has been some breakdown in the negotiations for the release of Amanda Lindhout and Nigel Brennan, who are being held by Somali kidnappers, or the situation would not have gone on so long or led to the unusual statement.

CTV News Channel: Michel Juneau-Katsuya, former CSIS officer, on the kidnapper demands

A new tape appears to contain the voice of Amanda Lindhout, and it seems the hostage-takers have grown tired and are trying to apply pressure on the family and government.

CTV News Channel: Ambroise Pierre, Reporters Without Borders, from Paris on the kidnapping

There are concerns after a woman claiming to be kidnapped Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout said she was unwell and needed medicine, and given the journalist and a colleague have been held far longer than expected.

Canada AM: Daniel Smith, former colleague of Amanda Lindout, discusses the dangers of reporting

A former colleague of Amanda Lindout discusses the danger of reporting abroad after a woman claiming to be the kidnapped Canadian pleads with the Canadian government to help bring her home.

CTV National News: Janet Dirks with details of the disturbing phone call

A young woman, claiming to be kidnapped journalist Amanda Lindhout, called the CTV National News room on Wednesday, begging for the government to secure her release.

CTV News Channel: Lindhout's full statement to CTV

A woman who claims to be kidnapped Canadian freelance journalist Amanda Lindhout called the CTV National Newsroom late Wednesday afternoon and asked to read a statement. Some viewers may find the content of the audio tape disturbing.

CTV Calgary: Chris Epp on what the Alberta-based freelance journalist says

An Alberta journalist being held hostage in Somalia made a phone call to CTV pleading for help

CTV Edmonton: Serena Mah on Lindhout's plea to save her life

A woman claiming to be kidnapped Canadian reporter Amanda Lindhout called CTV from Somalia, reading from a statement in which she pleads with the Canadian government to help bring her home.

Watch: See all Videos in the Player

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Thu. Jun. 11 2009 8:56 AM ET

The Somali kidnappers holding Amanda Lindhout, a freelance Canadian journalist, are under pressure from militias to make sure they exchange her for money, according to sources in the region.

Lindhout, a freelance print and television journalist from Sylvan Lake, Alta., was abducted last August while covering the famine and violence in Sudan for a French television station.

Three days after arriving in the capital city of Mogadishu, she and a group, including photographer Nigel Brennan of Australia, left a hotel to visit a refugee camp about 30 kilometres to the south. They were stopped on the road and abducted.

Ambroise Pierre, head of the Africa desk of Reporters Without Borders, said Thursday his organization is very concerned about the safety of Lindhout and Brennan.

"What I got this morning from information and sources on the ground is worrying because apparently there are some militias in Mogadishu who are putting pressure on the kidnappers so that the hostages would be sold," Pierre told CTV's Canada AM from Paris.

"What I mean is that apparently everybody in Mogadishu is surprised that the detention is so long. Nearly 10 months after the kidnapping the kidnappers would like to get rid of Amanda Lindhout and Nigel Brennan but would absolutely like to get paid."

Pierre said the kidnappers are trying to show "everybody that if they don't (get paid) they could get really angry."

On Wednesday, a woman claiming to be Lindhout called CTV's National newsroom and, apparently reading from a statement, said she feared dying in captivity.

The woman also pleaded with the Canadian government to help bring her home.

"I've been held hostage by gunmen in Somalia for nearly 10 months. I'm in a desperate situation, I'm being kept in a dark, windowless room in chains, without any clean drinking water and little or no food. I've been very sick for months without any medicine," she told CTV News.

She said she was in need of "immediate aid" and begged the Canadian government to help her family to pay her ransom. "Without it, I will die here," she said.

"I also tell them that they must deal directly with these people, (for) my life depends on it."

After hearing the recording, a former colleague of Lindhout said it was "absolutely" her voice.

"She knew what she was doing, she knew it was dangerous," Daniel Smith told CTV's Canada AM on Thursday from Baghdad.

"She was based out of Baghdad, she was going to be coming back here after a two to three week trip to Somalia but she never returned."

Smith said Lindhout is "good under pressure" in tough situations.

"She generally jumps out there with kindness towards people she meets and tries to get stories and will go to places like Somalia to get them," he said.

The kidnappers have been identified as a group called the Mujahedeen of Somalia, They originally demanded $2.5 million but have lowered their ransom price to $1 million.

According to reports, it's believed the pair's captors are moving them from location to location -- and that negotiations for their release have broken down a number of times.

At the time of the abduction, Lindhout was 27 and Brennan was 37. The other members of the group, all locals, were released.

Lindhout had also worked in Afghanistan and Iraq and has reported from overseas for Alberta's Red Deer Advocate newspaper.

Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs would not comment on the case.

Comments are now closed for this story

Deborah
said
0 0

When will people realize that going to countries like this isn't such a good idea? This is not the first time something like this has happened.

There are alot of people in Canada that need help!!! These mission workers, journalists that go to unstable countries risk their own life and then expect someone else to help them when this go wrong!!

Stay in Canada and help the people here, give of your time and you will 98% of the time stay safe.

GG
said
0 0

I understand the comments on here...everybody wants this free lance reporter back home safe and sound. I also agree that paying a ransom will just encourage more kidnappings like the pirates off of Somalia are doing raiding ships. I think one option for future endeavours is to better protect these people. If we want to do good works in foreign, third world countries where it is dangerous...we must accept some risk and also better protect ourselves from being extorted. Would it be safer, and more effective to simply fund a million dollars to provide body guards for a reasonable number of journalist to cover these stories/issues. We as Canadians are already supplying much in dollars for foreign aid but if we're not helping the long term situation for these people then those dollars are being wasted to. It seems to me the going rate for just one kidnapping is $1M-$2.5M....that could alternatively pay for a lot of protection/security for many journalists trips. I think we need to cover these stories/issues..thus we need journalists to do so and yet we dont want to pay ransoms..so it seems to me we need to invest some of those aid dollars towards dedicated security until such a time..the governments and development of these countries are ale to sustain themselves better on their own. It will take time. As for Linda- let's all pray it works out well...and soon. But lets also think about tomorrow's foreign journalist and ensure we're better prepared

George
said
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Poor girl made poor decision. Her family should publish a bank account to collect donation from any canadians who wish to save her. Let's see if they can get 1 milloin.

Linda Lawson
said
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I feel sad by the situation, but at the same time believe this happen because of a choice she made. If the goverment pays, then it will be enforce to the kidnappers that they will get paid for kidnapping a Canadian. They will do it again. In many 3rd world countries kidnapping has become a business. I hope she makes it home, but do not feel it is our countrie responisbility to make it happen. I makes me upset to hear them compare police and firefighters. She had a choice to go they don't have a chioce to save lives.

Hope it turns out!
said
0 0

Would you allow your daughter to go to these places, doing what they're doing?
I know the old "Well how am I gonna stop my 27 year old from doing what she wants?"
Easy! You're the one that changed her diapers, fed her from a bottle then from a spoon all the while protected her from the evils of the world! So because she's older now you have no say? Give me a break! Parenting doesn't stop! You put the hammer down and make sure that your baby doesn't go to these types of places! Simple as that!
I feel sorry for this poor girl, I really do, but she was more than fully aware of the consequences!

Ken - Nanaimo, BC
said
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As Canadians we need to bring this girl home now, so how can we help raise the ransom.
Is there a bank account / website set up to accept contributions for the ransom.

Cambob
said
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1: This is a risk she took.
2: Rewarding kidnappers is wrong.
3: I want to have sympathy for her, but this was her choice and fudging responsibility for her actions onto me is unreasonable.
4: Canadian Government should be involved (and probably is) but screaming that we should send in commandos to rescue her is utter futile.

I wish her good luck and hope she smartens up next time she wanders off to a war zone.

Nathan from Regina
said
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I do feel sorry for her, but at the same time it is her own fault to go there despite all the warnings. The government cannot give in to the demands and pay the ransom. If they did them it would put a target on any Canadian travelling to numerous countries around the world. If anything the government should just send a small military unit in to get her out and maybe take a few of the kidnappers out along the way.

Bridgewater
said
0 0

I feel really bad for Amandra and her family. Who wouldn't? Unfortunatly there is a warning on the govt' website and the lawlessness of that region is common knowledge. Would it be great if someone would pay the ransom and she'd be home? For sure but it opens a door we don't want open if the government pays. Here's an example. When pirates first started hijacking ships off Africa, the ransoms demanded were around $100,000. As soon as pirates were getting the money they started demanding millions...and are getting it. If we pay this ransom it makes the crime profitable and that means it will happen over and over. To her family, you're in our hearts and prayers. To Amanda, I pray they'll set you free but that's all I can do. When we knowingly put ourselves in a dangerous situation we're on our own.

daryn
said
0 0

I feel bad for her and her family. However, these people that kidnapped her are desparate. The economy of Somalia is in the dumps, there are starving people there. Do we really blame these people for taking what they want. I wonder if China were in the same situation, if they would not just take what they needed from Canada/USA or even Europe? Would we be able to stop an army of that magnitude. We need to start thinking about helping poor countries around the world. I know we are not legally bound to help, but shouldn't we be morally bound? A child starving in Iraq is exactly the same as a child starving in Somalia or Ethiopia, or anywhere. The American's just thing that the one in Iraq is special because his country has oil? Why does this make him special?

Let's start helping these countries bring themselves to a point of self sufficiency, Let's start teaching them to make money by Farming, Tourism... tourism is a big time money maker.

For instance I wonder what would have happenned if The Americans would have sent an envoy to Iraq with gifts and promises of treaties if the Sunni's would honor UN human rights treaties, but retain power? Maybe instead of cutting off Cuba's arm, they could have offered Castro sactuary in the US and a large sum of money to take care of him the rest of his life if he relinquished power. How would the cold war have turned out then?
Anyway I digress, again my condolences to these families.

DS- Toronto
said
0 0

If this was a reporter covering a story in Irag or Afganistan....would we turn our backs on them? Reporters put their lives on the line everyday when they go to such countries, without them the world wouldn't know what's going on...they aren't normal citizens, she went there for a reason for a story. I don't think her country should forget about her and leave her to die there. But I also agree that if you pay the ransome, they will do it more and more. Somehow we have got to get her out send in our special forces, we do have some in Canada don't we?

Born to be Wild
said
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Inform us at your own peril! Because the fact is we like to watch the blood and gore of the train wreck but ask us to take "action" and we'll change the channel.Go into a dangerous place and survive ? We'll pat you on the back! Get caught and cry for help then we'll say you deserved it!
I say we pay the million as long as we have full rights to the profits from her book and movie deal.

schpid
said
0 0

Let "reporters without borders" pay the ransom. Freelance means she was under no protections while in a very dangerous place well known for it's kidnappings of foreigners. If she actually thought she would be able to freely walk around the country with no consequences it shows just how naive people really are. I feel bad for her but Canada should never pay a penny in ransom, it will only encourage more kidnappings of other Canadians around the world.
Bottom line: she walked into the lions mouth without having done her homework (bribed the right people)and with no parachute to save her

Don, Vancouver
said
0 0

This is a Canadian citizen being held captive by terrorist scum. We should send a special forces unit over there, shoot these "Mujahedeen" to death, and bring Ms. Lindhout home. We should not pay a ransom, but we should teach any prospective kidnappers that targetting a Canadian citizen means death.

Katia
said
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This is a very difficult situtation. I don't think we should be negotiating with terrorists. If we do, then many more Canadians abroad may get kidnapped for ransoms because we've given the message that we will pay to get our citizens back. On the other hand, our tax dollars are used everyday to pay for rescue services of crazy people who decided to do extreme sports and get hurt. I would rather my money go to someone who is taking a risk to bring news to the world, which I think is very noble, rather than seeing my money pay for a helicopter get some idiot down a mountain he coulnd't climb.

My thoughts are with her friends and family.

Dorothy from St. Catharines
said
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Please do not blame this young woman for heading into dangerous territory. Journalists, like Lindhout tell stories beyond what designer the latest starlet is wearing. They are the main contributors to change in the world by shedding light on the way people live outside of the safety of Canada. Without people like this heading into such horrible places we would never know what evil exists and it would flourish. At one time just being in the profession gave you some measure of protection in dangerous places. Because getting the word out is so effective, it has become even more dangerous. Hopefully something can be done to get her out and something can be done to deter such situations from occurring in the future.

Doc from Haliburton
said
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Unbelievable, some of these comments. What would you like the Canadian government to do? Rambo and the Terminator are victims of budget cuts. The place is run by a spider web of clans and warlords, every UN and humanitarian organization left years ago including "Medicine sans Frontier's". The place is a breeding ground for daily civil conflicts, murders and now pirates roam the oceans and we don't even trade with them. Our military has been reduced and scaled back and we have no extraction plan to get our citizens out. The girl should never ever have gone into that environment. If you don't want to be eaten alive then stay out of the food chain. Somalia is the most dangerous place in the world and western journalists and politicians are merely kidnap fodder. Every informed person knows this and the movie "BLACKHAWK DOWN" with the resulting 18 US dead soldiers shows what can happen and how it altered American foreign policy 180 degrees.

John Beveridge, Kilworthy, Ontario
said
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Simply put, this young woman was working for somebody other than the Government of Canada. Let that organization retrieve her.

If our government pays a price for her does not that then make other Canadians a valuable commodity worthy of kidnapping?

Ben in BC
said
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She new the risks and still made the decision to put herself in danger. She is suffering the consequences just like any teenager and extreme sport participants do.
We can not reward the kidnappers with anything, that will only encourage them and others to continue to kidnap more people. Paying these people off only puts everyone else in danger.

Life > Money
said
0 0

Whatever the means, free both captives. It doesn't matter if she is Canadian and that he is Australian...forgot nationality & politics, what this boils down to is there are two lives at risk and returning them safely is the ONLY matter at hand.

RL88
said
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I hope she gets out of the country unharmed. However it should not be up to the Canadian Gov't to get her out by paying the ransom money. To be honest, I don't have the slightest interests on what's going on in Somalia or any other war-torn lawless countries. So to you all freelance journalist; report to me something else thats worth reading.

Brad
said
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My heart goes out to the family, and I hope this is resolved quickly this lady has suffered enough. I wish our government would grow some teeth and take care of their own. If she would have been American, they would have rescued her 9 1/2 months ago. Just FYI I will never listen to Big 105 in Red Deer Alberta again for a comment that was made. "we can breath easier as it's not Jody Evans that was taken hostage", one of 105's reporters. You make me sick.

Andrew, NB
said
0 0

Not to be hard... but the risk was high and she still went. We can not pay to get her back as it would send the wrong message. We are Canadians... but we are not here to "save" those who take bad risks.

Kevin in Vic
said
0 0

As I sit here and read these comments, I am almost in stitches.
PAY HER RANSOM!! some say. Why? She went there with full knowledge of what, where and who she was dealing with. The company she is working for should be the one trying to negotiate her release. Not the Canadian government. If they did that, every Canadian abroad just became a target of kidnapping for profit. You might as well ask an insurance company to cover snow pack on the roof of your home.
SEND IN THE COMMANDOS’!!!!
Really? Invade a sovereign country, even one as lawless as Somalia and you will have every tree hugger, every lawyer just salivating in anticipation for something to go wrong and someone get killed or injured. The tree huggers will cry and moan about rights of the downtrodden being oppressed by the big nasty Canadian military machine and "the NEO-CONs" conservatives. The Liberals and NDP would be fighting and pushing to look over the shoulder of the Government just so that they could find something else to bring up in Question Period.
The lawyers would be looking to line their pockets with lawsuits about injuries, property damage and "wrongful deaths" incurred during the "illegal" invasion of this “poor, underprivileged nation” while their limo drives them to Brooks Brothers for a new suit.
Besides, Canada would have to grow a new pair of cajones after Somalia cut the last ones off in the 90’s

Bill in BC
said
0 0

While I feel sympathy for her and her family, the rule when dealing with kidnappers is NEVER PAY. Locate them and send in JTF2, recover her and kill the kidnappers. Do this and potential kidnappers will learn that kidnapping Canadians leads to a messy end and no profit.

Tom Martin
said
0 0

I can't believe the idiotic statements from some of these stupid people who say that this journalist should have known better and we shouldn't pay a ransom. It's OK to let our tax dollars go missing, gun registry fiasco, e-health, and scandals involving tax dollar waste, but save a Canadian life. God forbid. Throwing our tax money out the window is totally acceptable. What are you people thinking,

Tom Martin

Victor in Vaughan
said
0 0

Warnings were given and yet this person decided to go anyway.

Now what ?

If I choose to go through a bunch of red lights on my drive home, then what ?

Ben, Gatineau
said
0 0

Despite the fact that I really don't think this girl had real official business there, I think that as a country we should try to negotiate something to bring her home safe. But we should also seriously restrain people on their own from trying to save the world, they make more damages than they help !

Lee
said
0 0

I agree with RJ and Bob below. I feel for this family and the girl but bringing the Canadian govt into paying this ranson sends a clear message to other foreseeable kidnappings and condones travelling to these areas. You take this risk when you enter lawless countries with no consolate.

jordan
said
0 0

The thing is if the government actually goes out and pays the kidnappers, that places a target on every Canadian in hostile countries world wide. Kidnapping is a business and if the kidnappers know that Canadians are the ones who will make them the money it makes a bad situation for all of us.

George from Vancouver
said
0 0

My thoughts and prayers are with both reporters and their families. We should not spend the $1,000,000 to pay her captors. This sets a very bad precedent in a region where there is no law. What I would like to see the Canadian Government do is have JTF2 sent in and have the unit act with extreme prejudice to get our Canadian out. We as a country need to take care of our own and not bow down to thugs.

Brittany Fitzmaurice
said
0 0

The government can spend BILLIONS bailing out car companies, but they can't help this woman? This is disgusting. I would much rather my tax dollars went to help her, then to General Motors.

Dan from Northern Ont
said
0 0

Why should we pay these bullies!? Cut off all aid to the area for a month. Let them know not to mess with us.

pasha
said
0 0

I have to agree with the comments on this issue that - there is a clear warning in place to people going to certain countries that this is dangerous. What we should probably add is "If you go there and get into trouble - do not expect Canada to rescue you." And, to those who ask how I would react if it was a member of my family - I would say the same thing and have said the same thing - if you are going to do something - Anything - Be aware of your responsibilities to yourself and to others and if you still choose to do it - be aware of the consequences and do not come to me if they go bad. I'm not hard hearted - I believe in people being responsible - Hopefully my child would be more responsible. I don't think Canada should be bailing everyone out when they do something they were warned against doing. And, I think it's important for the Somalians to recognize that we are not paying a ransom for their terrorist activities.

Mike
said
0 0

Paying for her ransom is not an option. While it may (or may not) get this girl released, in the end it only gives an incentive to kidnap foreigners in the future.

MAL
said
0 0

So many issues.. so much cloudiness...

Did she remember she was Canadian 10 months into this? Where were 'Reporters without Borders say THE FIRST 9 MONTHS she was kidnapped? Why would someone go to a region like Somalia wearing full make-up, ear-rings, bracelet and what else doesn't show in the picture. She's gorgeous.. how come she isn't doing inserts for CNN or FOX?

And for those apologists that keep posting about how the media shows the seamy underside of the world.... did you ever stop and think if a platform wasn't given to the monsters of the world, maybe they would stop generating so many new monsters.

Bill
said
0 0

1 - She shouldn't be there in the first place.

2 - Let the News association she works for get her out. "Reporters without borders"

Unless she was there as part of the Canadian military, our government has nothing to do with getting her out. Somalia is a lawless nation and she has no right to be there .

Bill
said
0 0

It is a tragic situation, and I feel for Amanda and her family. However, I do not condone the idea of the Canadian government paying ransom - it will only encourage further kidnappings.

There are those who say we need the reporters to go into these places and tell the stories. Well, we all know the stories of Somalia and we don't need any more. When the government says not to go into a country, as they have said about Somalia, then don't go there, period. The Somalis have not listened to any news stories and decided not to kidnap people. They have in fact asked for an amount the family cannot pay.

I hope that all other Canadians get the message - stay out of these countries.

I do hope Amanda is released, but certainly getting the government to pay the crimminals is not the way. It is not the same as paying for a medevac or a hockey team.

Marie - Saskatoon
said
0 0

If there is a ransom fund set up somewhere to collect donations for here release please inform the public so that we can get this girl home with her family. As a mother of 2, I cannot imagine the anguish that her family is feeling. It has got to be killing them inside. If each one of us donated something we could bring her home. Please Please help this family.

Sean
said
0 0

Wow, it's amazing how apathetic we can be. If you don't know the person in need of help, it's easy to hang them out to dry. Yes, she made a choice and put herself in a dangerous situation. Many people do the same thing everyday, cops, firefighters, soldiers, pilots, the list goes on, if something happens to them, they're heros. But a female journalist gets kidnapped, held for ransom, needs what ever help she can get, then you say she asked for it. I bet if it were you, you'd be calling for help too. Except it probably won't ever happen to you because you're safe in your little world, and rely on courages people to keep the world turning for you.

Ox
said
0 0

"JB in Calgary
I agree with not paying for them, it would just cause more kidnappings. But isn't there some elite Canadian extraction team we could send in? I know our Navy ships have them."

That would be Joint Task Force 2 (JTF-2)

The one's we sent to Iraq with the Americans and SAS and killed all the hostage takers rescuing the Canadians. Of course we deny ever being out of country.

Ox
said
0 0

Nice to see our government holding up the Canadian policy of abandoning citizens over seas in their most desperate time.

Of course paying the ransom is exactly what our government would do if they could get votes out of it somewhere, encouraging more Canadian's to be taken.

Send in the JTF-2, this is what we have them for. You kidnap a Canadian overseas the JTF come in and kill everyone.

For once I have to agree, Israel has it right.

Red
said
0 0

Think of her as a soldier, a secret agent. These journalists are foot soldiers reporting back to the rest of the world, wherer our government is afraid to go. The rasome is peanuts to what the Canadian Government is spending on the mitilary.

DaveA
said
0 0

Ok, you pay for it. Canadian's don't walk on water and would be nuts to go into a country like that. While I hope her the best, she was clearly insane to go there. We taxpayers can't pay for every twit out there. But mind you if we can pop $10+B for GM, we should ahve enough for a crack force to go in there and extract her by force if needed. But going into the extortion rabbit hole is something we should avoid.

Red
said
0 0

Well let's get our priorities in order. How much would it cost to rescue a snowboarder boarding in an out of bounds area in British Columbia? She was trying to report on people for the sake of their well being. One million, that's like 10-12 UAW and CAW wages. I think the government has the money! This is a no brainer!!!!

B. Bailey
said
0 0

No public funds should be used to pay for the release of hostages. People (not just journalists) going into these situations know full well what could potentially happen. Unfortunate, but true.

Retired Soldier
said
0 0

The Canadian Government is looking at all peaceful options that are available. However, I can assure you that if peaceful negotiations do not work, the JTF2 are standing by.

Remarkable
said
0 0

Civilians who wander into these lawless countries know the risks. Unfortunately, they know the consequences but take the risks anyways.
However, Canada should do whatever it takes to get this young lady out of there. She is after all a Canadian born and bred and should be rescued by any means.

Mike
said
0 0

We all know Harper view on this situation from the ads his party has been running.
Harper has clearly stated if your working outside of Canada, Harper doesn't think your a Canadian.

MW in Thunder Bay
said
0 0

What Makes me wonder is that every news outlet has been reporting on the phone call and plea for monetary help to the family but nobody has told people where to go to help.

I'm sure there are lots of people who would chip in but if they only knew where to go.

Donna
said
0 0

How do any of you know that she wasn't forced to make the call with a gun to her head? For all we know, she knew very well what the risks were, ACCEPTED them, and went anyway. For all we know, she doesn't want any help, but her kidnappers are keeping her alive, and forcing her to call because they want money. Until she's free, we don't really know what's going on. She may yet die in captivity. Geez, have some compassion and empathy, folks. God, what's wrong with people today? Sure, she should have had protection, and on and on, but still, have some heart. That call to me sounded as if she was reading it, and that it was forced. I do not doubt that there was a weapon pointed at her while she made that call.

Mel Blake
said
0 0

Doesn't Canada have commandos who do this sort of "work" for us? Don't we have intelligence services who can find out where she is? Oh, yeah. I forgot. We're talking about Canada ...
Even if we have such teams we'd never have the stones to do anything.

DeathtoCriminals
said
0 0

Is our military planning a rescue?

Caro from Barrie
said
0 0

To pay or not to pay? We don't want to encourage more kidnappings but if someone does not go to countries where oppression is happening, to inform and incite us to action, then things will never change. Women in these countries will never be safe or free, children will starve and men will continue to see their only course of action as violence and hatred.If it wasn't for journalists, would we know or care about Somolia? So for all those who said she should know better, especially as a pretty young woman - will you do what you can in your own world, to make the world a safer place for women (and children and men)everywhere? Be inspired by her action even if you can't quite agree with it!

Rick in Ottawa
said
0 0

It is sad that people do not heed the warnings of our government and venture into places that are so dangerous. Will brave, this free-lance reporter is fool-hearty and naive. I don't think she should be left to the wolves, and that Canada should try every means to free her, but also I think that people who are this foolish should be held accountable. Despite the ordeal she is enduring, if (and hopefully) she is freed, she should be fined by the Canadian government or have her passport suspended for a period of time.

ghyber
said
0 0

What are people (Canadian sensation seekers) like Lindhout doing in God foresaken countries like Somalia doing there anyways? What are they thinking? These people, not the Canadian government, are responsible for their actions and their ensuing enslaved predicaments. I really don't mean to read like someone who is uncaring but one's Canadian citizenship is not an open passport to paint oneself in a corner looking for trouble and when trouble arrives, come looking for uncle government to save your sorry butt.

DD
said
0 0

Cheryl..."throwing her to the wolves"...she's already there!!
If we pay, then there will be another 100 plus kidnappings within a week asking for the same thing!! The sea off Somalia where my brother in law is onboard is the same situation, absolute lawlessness and greed. Please pray for her and the Australian's release as will I. Much is born of faith!!

Torre in Ottawa
said
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I am sensitive to those who wonder why people put themselves in jeprody (sp?)and then expect to be saved when they are in trouble. However...this would mean that Doctors Without Borders, Red Cross, CUSO, etc. should only go to safe places like Medecine Hat or Kamloops. If we as a society believe in reaching out to support third world countries or linking bringing them closer to a just and contemporary society. then we need to support the individual members of these respective organizations and put our money where our mouth is. Our government has a major role in negotiation but our private sector has a responsibility as well. Corporate Canada has a role here and certainly the French network, with whom she worked, needs to step up to the plate. In fact, all global news agencies and broadcasters have a responsibility if they believe in the work that they ask their field reporters to do.If they don't...then all field reporters will know how little they are valued.

KMC (ON)
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Sikhestknight

The CANADIAN Government didn't spend a cent on e-health,

E-health was the brainchild of Dalton McGuinty. It was a project of the Ontario PROVINCIAL Government NOT the "Canadian" Government.

As for this "reporter" for a French Television network, clearly this is a very difficult problem to resolve.

As most have pointed out, paying a ransom simply encourages other would-be kidnappers and endangers other Canadians.

On the other hand, just leaving this poor woman to whatever fate may be, otherwise, in store, for her, is a disturbing prospect.

I hope this doesn't become just another political "football" for the Opposition to use in an attempt to score political points.

This woman is a Canadian and deserves every consideration.

Vanessa
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Held captive for 10 months in Somalia! I think they have suffered enough for their choice of employment.

It's time for their employers to anti up the ransom money! They wanted a report of what was going on over there, well bring this women home and they'll have their news story.

If reporters are going to be sent to these dangerous locations then their employers better be prepared to do what they must to bring them home again.

Samual
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I have no sympathy for anyone who puts their life in harms way.
Same goes for Iraq & Afghanistan, a waste of billions of dollars.
No different than a smoker that gets cancer.
To me they are all stupid personal decisions.

D. Simpson
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She threw herself to the wolves, quite deliberately.

Canada should, of course, assist in her return. However, just like we should make back-country skiers pay the rescue bill when they deliberately go into prohibited areas, she, her family and her employer should bear the costs of any ransom.

Steve
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Deploy special forces and send Somoli kidnappers the message that Canada and Canadians will not tolerate the abduction and illegal detention of our citizens.

Graeme from Kitchener
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RJ from Halifax is right, you simply can't pay a ransom demand like this. As soon as you do it sets a precedent and many more people get kidnapped.

Even though we don't support paying a ransom I am sure most of us would support paying for an operation to rescue her (which would cost far more in the short term, but not have the adverse side effect of getting more people kidnapped. and in fact might act as a deterrence.)

Anne
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It is horrible that she is being held captive. But despite opinions that Canada should pay the ransom, we cannot do that. To pay the ransom would only encourage more abductions for money. I realize journalists and aid workers wish to expose the human tragedy within these countries, but they should understand they do so at their own risk. Unfortunately, for some of these places, there is simply no way to help them, their leaders are too entrenched in corruption.

Gunnar
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>Laurette Sturgeon said:
would you be saying this if she was a member of your family .

If an adult member of my family, fully capable of making decisions based on available evidence insisted on playing chicken with a railroad locomotive, and was seriously hurt or killed, I would be sad. I would not however be asking for government bailouts or help. One of the sad facts of being an adult is that you are free to make your own choices, and in life, all choices have consequences. It's not like something totally unexpected happened: every reasonable person knows that Somalia is an anarchy. Add to that the fact that women simply don't have rights in such countries, and you have to ask what kind of death wish this woman has.

I'm sorry for her. But nobody, including government, can protect people from the consequences of their own actions.

Dave in Ottawa
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A female reporter entering into Somalia, as a freelance reporter to top it, and she expects Canada to save her behind? Sorry folks, but she should have used some common sense here and not even thought of entering Somali, especially as a woman. And now she expects Canada to bail her out?!? Sorry, our taxpayer dollars should be directed in a more productive manner.

Cynthia, Ottawa
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I completely agree with RJ from Halifax. If Ms. Lindhout was a member of my family, I would be asking the government to pay the ransom as well but if our government starts negotiating with kidnappers and terrorists and paying ransom for the return of Canadian citizens travelling abroad...where does it end? Yes she's doing an important job by reporting news from these unstable countries but she's doing this knowing full-well what's at stake. It's a catch-22 situation. Pay the ransom, whether it's the government, her family, the news agency that sent her there or someone who donates the funds...it will happen again and it will happen often. My hopes and prayers are with Ms. Lindhout and her family for her safe return.

jpjk,ottawa
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There are a number of issues here. Yes, she accepted a certain level of risk by going and yes the Government has a responsibility to do what it can to help. However, if we ever pay a ransom then we make it 'open season' on Canadians. Kidnapping has become a business and we would fuel that. Much like Melissa Fung this kidnapping is financially motivated, just like the sudden rash of piracy.

If you go to high risk places like Somalia, India or Mexico (500 kidnappings a month) then you need to be prepared for the worst. There are Canadian companies that can help. I found this site useful www.captivitysurvival.com

JB in Calgary
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I agree with not paying for them, it would just cause more kidnappings. But isn't there some elite Canadian extraction team we could send in? I know our Navy ships have them.

MJ
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I know everyone wants to go and HELP everyone in the world but one has to be careful of where you going and a country which is not stable in everyway she should not have gone there. People who want to go to Third world countries have to be careful cause obviously for them you are a money making target

Mike
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This is no different than if we rescued somebody that hurt themselves in an extreme sport. How much does it cost to send a helicopter and first aid staff for that rescue. We need these reporters and we should bail them out.

Stacey Trottier-Mousseau
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By paying a ransom you are effectively creating a market based on profitability. Nationals working in these contexts (journalists and aid workers etc) clearly realize the risks that they are taking and accept the fact that their governments will refuse to financially compensate parties who engage in unlawful and egregious actions prior to accepting an assignment. I realize this sounds callous - unfortunately it is reality.

Laura Lau
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She probably did know she was taking a chance by going to such a dangerous place but reporters like Amanda do a very important job. They tell stories from across the globe. We can't bury our heads in North America and pretend a large part of the world doesn't live in war-torn places where people are displaced and murdered by the millions. I for one think we have a responsibility to be educated on the atrocities occurring and I thank the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to tell us about them whether they are in a hurricane torn American city, or a country like Afghanastan or Somalia. The fact that she has been a hostage for almost a year is shameful. Let's try to do everything to bring her home safely.

James from Ontario
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Reporters who put themselves in harms way to get the stories that the world needs to know and to see. This is the stuff of heroes and I have no doubt these people knew the danger. Heroes are not to be abandoned. I think we need to do whatever it takes to get sthem all home. Money, politics, military action... whatever it takes.

John
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This is why we have a Foreign Affairs Department in Canada, if anyone took the time to visit the website would see the travel reports for countries across the world. Click on Somalia it says in bold red "avoid all travel, Canadians in this country should leave. There is no resident Canadian government office in Somalia, and the Government of Canada cannot provide consular assistance to Canadian citizens in distress in Somalia. Canadians who are is Somalia despite this warning and who are confronted with an emergency will have to make their way to the nearest embassy or consulate of Canada or rely on their own resources."
In other words 5 minutes of homework on any person's part and you would not be in the trouble you are in. I do not feel sorry for these individuals and my tax dollars should not have to pay any ransom, let her and her family deal with this.

Sikhestknight
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The Canadian Government can spend billions on fruitless programs like e-health, and yet cannot spare $1 million of taxpayers money [our money] to secure the release of a fellow Canadian. Shame Shame Shame

Cheryl
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Reporters go into these countries to show the world the injustices that take place for the people living there. Without them people around the world would suffer in silence with no hope of help from outside aid. It is very brave what these people do. Those who say she should have expected and/or asked for this by going in to a dangerous country to show the world what happens there should be ashamed of themselves. She is a Canadian and a brave one at that. What`s wrong with this world when a woman`s own fellow Canadians would throw her to the wolves like some people are suggesting.

Karl
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We all at some point take risks with our safety and still expect the health care system to fix us up for free. This is maybe a little more obvious case. The bigger question is if we pay a ransom do we jeopardize other people who are working in dangerous places. This would possibly be minimized to some extent if the ransom is paid by someone other than the goverment of Canada. Our prayers are with them.

Raj
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I sympathize with all the kidnappings, killings, ....... If we start paying all the kidnappers, kidnapping may become the only source of income for people living in poverty. Kidnapping may start occurring every second in third world countries. Kidnappers should be dealt more severely than they treated their captives.

I believe reporters should always try to have local police presence when traveling.

Gregory Boudreau
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I agree with Bob, these people who insist on going to these countries were there is danger, yet when they get into trouble they want the Canadian Governement to help. While I do agree help should come, in what form, i am not sure. This should be a lesson to anyone else who might want to go to these countries, maybe they should think twice about going,"is being in grave danger worth the trip".

FED-UP CANADIAN!!!!
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This is very alarming! It has become very common place to take people convict them of trumped up charges and they never see their families again. Wake up Canadians! Whether it be Asia or the Middle East reporters tell us the story and we act all upset but nothing changes. Children are still tortured, genocide is very real and alive in these countries and if they have no regard for their own people, why would they care about reporters. Without these brave people, we would NOT have the truth, just what they want us to hear!

andrew, NS
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You can't pay these people off to release these two, because next time they'll grab four or five, expecting a higher pay off. Put the JTF to work, set up a black bag op and get this girl out.

Randy, London
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Why is the governments (and thus the taxpayers) responsibility to rescue poeple who willingly travel to areas of the world where kidnapping, murder and violence are common place? At some point, common sense has to prevail...This is not the first time this has happened.

I do feel bad for the captives, but what were they thinking?

Bill fromWhitby
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I think the Canadian Government should negotiate but cannot pay the ransom or every Canadian in any poor country would be a target. If the company she was working wants to pay or the family then they should be the ones but the Government cannot for the safety of the rest of Canadian travellers.

RJ in Halifax
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To all those who feel the Canadian Government should be paying the ransom - I understand and share your emotional concerns, but you really need to start thinking with your brain, not your heart. If the government does pay the ransom, a very clear message will be sent to two groups. First, to any would-be kidnappers that's it's a good idea to kidnap Canadians because our government (or RIM CEO as one suggests) will pay whatever amount you demand. The second group are reporters/doctors, etc who will now believe that it's okay to travel to dangerous places where kidnappings occur, because our government will pay any ransom demanded.

This would be an extremely volatile situation that would inevitably spin quickly out of control.

You cannot negotiate with terrorists or common criminals. If you do, they will only feel more empowered to repeat their criminal activity.

Laurette Sturgeon
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Ray would you be saying this if she was a member of your family . I agree with John

Bob
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There is a very clear warning from Canada's Foreign Affairs department that anyone going to Somalia is on their own.

The warning states there is no embassy on consular services available and kidnappings and murders of foreigners is common.

For her to go there under those warnings with no protection is ridiculous.

I feel bad for her, but let it be a reminder to everyone that these risks are real!

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=269000

PhDN
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Canadian government issues reports on different countries, and they are warning all Canadians against unessential travel to these regions.
I do hope she gets out alive.
At the same time it is a good lesson to all those who are thinking to go to dangerous places, they should think twice.

Bob
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Why is it always up to the gov't to step in and bail these people out? She knew the risks of going over there and chose to go anyway. When will people learn to stay out of these volitile countries ... just because we're Canadian, doesn't mean everyone loves us and won't hurt us.

Torn
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I honestly do not want to sound cruel or unsympathetic, because I’m not. I am really sorry for this girl and her family, however, she made the choice, a well informed choice, to go to this country where she was aware of the terrible things they do every day. I do not believe that Canadian resources should be spent on getting her out now. If you want to stay safe – stay in Canada – you take your chances otherwise.

Tim
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How about instead of paying 300 million for a hockey team Balsillie does this woman a favor and pays her ransom...that would be a good deed.

Ray
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People that leave Canada to go into dangerous countries should not expect the Canadian Government to bring them back to Canada. In this case let the French television that she was working get her out.

David Chan
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The risk of putting yourself in harm's way is that you may be harmed. I wonder if this lady took that into consideration.

John
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I feel sorry for both of these captives even though I think they should know better than to wonder into a lawless third world land and expect otherwise, especially a young single attractive woman like Amanda. My work brought me to many third world countries, none as bad as Somolia and can tell you that they can be very dangerous for a foreigner, you are a target.
I think the Canadian Gov't should help release both of them and let it be a lesson to freelance journalists everywhere.

Ashley Dawn
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I am upset about this shocking story of Amanda Lindhout. We are Canadians, but what are we doing? This poor girl has suffered enough. Lets get her back 10 months is way too long. Imagine if it was your son or daughter.