Hostages Taken off Somalia

[Hud3]

I've deleted the last three posts, since the comments are getting very much off-topic and one was very political. If anyone has something to say that's directly related to the British hostages' situation, feel free to post. If you want to make political statements or rattle your sabers, please find another forum.

[swagman]

Well said Hud

JOHN

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by HUD

. If anyone has something to say that's directly related to the British hostages' situation, feel free to post.
.

I wonder what would happen if she actually dies.

I would expect something of an outcry. Multi-faceted.

I would think the pirates are smart enough to realize they need to feed them food and medicine. I am pretty sure someone would drop medicine to them if they asked. Or since they have boats they could just go out to a ship and pick it up.

[Eleven]

Latest this week is from a call from the wife to the UK.
They are alive still, first of all, and being held separately with no contact with each other.
She was obviously distressed, and mentioned their 29th wedding anniversary coming up soon.
Hope this is the right thread, it's been quiet all round lately, and let this be a warning, it is a risk, and the world loses interest in a couple of weeks, the press in a couple of days.
Safe passage planning, such as flotilla transitions? and better definition of hazardous areas need to be considered, and may be avoided?
We discuss weather forecasts but can this site collate piracy incidents, or a agency that can advise, so that we can assess prospective routes.
And remember these are not the only missing people, we are lucky not to be amongst them. Many more have died on peace keeping, aid giving and holidaying in contentious areas by the weather, or by accident, petty theft and piracy.

[Laidback]

Originally Posted by Eleven

Safe passage planning, such as flotilla transitions? and better definition of hazardous areas need to be considered, and may be avoided?
but can this site collate piracy incidents, or a agency that can advise, so that we can assess prospective routes.

Cruiser Forum has covered the subject of planning http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...afe-36467.html Together with an official guide to those that insist on using the Somali coast, the Gulf of Aden and the Southern Red Sea to get to Europe

[GordMay]

Paul and Rachel Chandler, the British couple who have been held hostage by Somali pirates for more than four months, could be free within days, according to Professor Mohamed Omar Dalha, deputy speaker of the Somali Parliament.

More ➥ British couple held by Somali pirates ‘could be freed in days’ – Somali Breaking News & Video Community

[Ocean Girl]

kinda sad how long it took me to find this thread...a new video is out.
New video of UK couple kidnapped by Somali pirates - Yahoo! News

Doing something, anything is better than this...nothing.

E

[surfingminniwinni]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

kinda sad how long it took me to find this thread...a new video is out.
New video of UK couple kidnapped by Somali pirates - Yahoo! News

Doing something, anything is better than this...nothing.

E

Thanks for that, good to see they are still alive.

I was very disappointed with the attitude of most of the comments on this link.
Its funny how the general public think if you have a yacht you must be rich.
In our case we have just worked bloody hard.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

Doing something, anything is better than this...nothing.

E

Hi Erika

I don't wish this to sound unfeeling, though the words sound callous.

"Anything is not better." If governments start handing out 7 million pounds per couple then everyone of us cruisers in every country in the world would be at risk of "kidnapping and extortion and even torture." Every crook from the Caribbean to romantic Greece would be taking cruisers for cash.


These people were sailing in areas known to be dangerous and misrepresented the facts on Noonsite and paid the consequences. Horrible consequences they are, but truly believe me when I tell you that a fair percentage of the cruisers sailing the Gulf of Aden when we did thought the whole pirate think as a joke. And this was with full knowledge of the Chandlers situation. It is not a joke. Its a life and death matter.

Perhaps the Chandler's kidnapping will show people on small boats to take the warnings seriously. Governments warn, cruisers flout.


Mark

[Ocean Girl]

No, it does not sound cold or heartless just realistic. As far as my comment, I was more thinking about something that involved some big strong well trained guys with a hell of alotta ammo. Money will not fix this, they will only snatch another cruiser. Sorry for the blood thirsty talk, guess I need a nap.
Erika

[Eleven]

The solution lies elsewhere. It must become an International Crime to pay ransom. That will make Piracy Uneconomic. Just bear in mind that paying money to thugs only buys more weapons.

[mintyspilot]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

.....I was more thinking about something that involved some big strong well trained guys with a hell of alotta ammo. Money will not fix this,

I agree. The UK has some of the best special forces in the world and I am amazed that we have not tried something to locate and rescue the Chandlers, if only to send a message that there is no point in kidnapping Brits. Still, we've just had a change of govt.....

I've read that the west coast of Africa is dodgy for pirates as well and I assume that North Africa (in The Med) is safe, but what about southern Africa? Is it best just to avoid Africa?

[Eleven]

The UK forces have recovered victims before. The Pirates now separate couples and threaten each with the death of the other in the event of any operation to 'rescue' them.
There are 500 hostages in Somalia. The only reason they are there is because ransoms are paid.

[barnakiel]

I would not over-dramaticize Africa. West is not as dangerous as the East. I have been to the South, no problem. My friends sail to the West, no problem.

Yes, it is very dicey on the East coast and now even all the way out to the Seychelles and Comoros, but piracy is not much of an issue elsewhere.

barnie

[Lajos]

I just finished the book, hope they got Lynn Rival back in the water by now...