Dutch aid worker freed in Russia

[Ichhabe]

Dutch aid worker freed in Russia


There has been no ransom demand for Erkel
A Dutch medical aid worker taken hostage by gunmen near Chechnya in August 2002 has been released.
Arjan Erkel, of the relief organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), was freed in the southern Russian province of Dagestan.

A Russian official in Dagestan said he had been rescued in a raid by security forces in the early hours of Sunday.

Mr Erkel has been taken to the capital of Dagestan, Makhachkala. MSF says he is in "reasonable good health".

Official line

Mr Erkel was bundled into a car by three gunmen in Makhachkala on 12 August 2002.


The Russian authorities at the time blamed gangsters.

But MSF said the official line was questionable because no ransom request was made.

The group later accused Dagestan and federal officials of being involved in kidnappings in the region.

It said Russia was trying to intimidate critics of its operations in Chechnya.

MSF has suspended aid operations there several times because of kidnappings - notably after the abduction of regional head Kenny Gluck in January 2001.

Human rights groups say more than 400 people were abducted in the region last year.

Mr Erkel's father told Dutch news agency ANP he was relieved to hear of his son's release.

"We do not know how he is doing but we are very happy he has been freed," he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3617609.stm

Still hope, even for them long gone...

[Kriz]

After one and a half year, jeez I won't want to be in his position. Good he finally got released.

[Ichhabe]

After one and a half year, jeez I won't want to be in his position. Good he finally got released.

Some of the Americans ant Brits held in Lebanon, was in captivity for 5-6 years.

Just saw that Dutchman on the Norwegian news on TV2. He saw amazingly "healthy", and of course in good spirit.

[Haiw]

Glad they finally got him out. He was there for 20 months. :|

[Haiw]

BTW this is pretty much the first report that openly says that he was liberated in HR action.

[scm77]

Where does it say anything about the US being blamed? :|

[Romulus]

Where does it say anything about the US being blamed?


Doesn't have too. According to the "new" way of thinking in europe, the US is behind everything that goes wrong in the world.

[ibstolidude]

@ Ichabe

Please edit title so that it is not misleading and relates to the story at hand.

Thanks

[Ichhabe]

Explanation on why the thread thread was renamed: It was a test to see if more people would have a look on it. The first 4 hours it was up, there were 65 people that had looked at it. There were 3 comment, wich 2 of them was mine.
After I changed the name, 2 hours afterwards it was about a 100 more that had seen it.
There was some more comments, but none expressing joy for the release of the Dutchman.

Sorry guys, you proved my point. :(

[budanski]

Prove what? The point that you're a flame baiter? ;) Whats the point of well wishes when the title stated it was America's fault?

[ibstolidude]

Explanation on why the thread thread was renamed: It was a test to see if more people would have a look on it. The first 4 hours it was up, there were 65 people that had looked at it. There were 3 comment, wich 2 of them was mine.
After I changed the name, 2 hours afterwards it was about a 100 more that had seen it.
There was some more comments, but none expressing joy for the release of the Dutchman.

Sorry guys, you proved my point. :(

Sorry I don't want to infer what you may not mean to imply so... what is your point?

[Romulus]

Sorry guys, you proved my point.

What was the point? You have more Anti-American hatred dripping off you than HELEX does?

[Ichhabe]

Prove what? The point that you're a flame baiter? ;) Whats the point of well wishes when the title stated it was America's fault?

Because it seems like that "flame bait" is what you want.

I posted this at 10:21 PM on the 11th.
After 1 1/2 hours, there was a total off 99 souls that had seen it.
There was 3 replies, wich 2 of them was my own.

At 10:45 PM, Chasseur_Alpin made topic called "US tactics condemned by British officers".
At the same time as I checked the Dutchman hostage realese, he had a total of 483 hits.
And there was 38 replies.
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12127&sid=6bbf2382e914f7f71e21ea9847cac804

I had a talk with another forum member, and mentioned that to him.
We had a little laugh about it, and agreed on the fact that since it wasn't an American released, well, then the forum members actually did not cared as it seemed.

I then suggested to see, if it was a negative title, maybe more people would have a look.
So I tested it out. Two hours later there was about 110 more hits. 2 new replises, but again, none that was joyfull for his release.

I also made another topic, called "UK struggles to be heard in Iraq".
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12124&sid=6bbf2382e914f7f71e21ea9847cac804

It is a very intersting article about the Brits view, so far 3 replies and 117 souls so far had a look on that.

What I'm trying to "prove", is that it is maybe right that "the rest of the world doesn't matter".

And I have never on purpouse posted flame bait just to cause a flame war. And that you know Budanski.
This was a "once in the life time test".

[Ichhabe]

Sorry guys, you proved my point.

What was the point? You have more Anti-American hatred dripping off you than HELEX does?

BWAAAA HAHA HAHAAAAHAHA rofl

If that was what it would take to pass HELEX as more Anti-American, then you Romulus must be quite sensitive. rofl

[ibstolidude]

Poor control group.

The data also may suggest that people chose to view the thread with the US title as it was a title that placed blame on the US - one of several common trends in the forum - they didn't care to view it when it didn't place the blame on the US.

Any number of guesses can be made.

[Ichhabe]

Poor control group.

The data also may suggest that people chose to view the thread with the US title as it was a title that placed blame on the US - one of several common trends in the forum - they didn't care to view it when it didn't place the blame on the US.

Any number of guesses can be made.

OK, point taken. :)

Next time I may try with: Americans rejoyce as Dutchman is released from captivity. :hug:

[Romulus]

I recall a thread about a Brit being released and we all are happy about it. Don't be a douche bag and try to start something. I mean christ, people probably just saw your name by the thread and said "Meh..."

[UkrainianAmerican]

I recall a thread about a Brit being released and we all are happy about it. Don't be a douche bag and try to start something. I mean christ, people probably just saw your name by the thread and said "Meh..."
Mr.T got a point.
:lol:

[Ichhabe]

I recall a thread about a Brit being released and we all are happy about it. Don't be a douche bag and try to start something. I mean christ, people probably just saw your name by the thread and said "Meh..."

Sorry to say: Your opinion of me, means less to me than any rock beaneath another rock anywhere in the Gobi desert. rofl

[UkrainianAmerican]

I recall a thread about a Brit being released and we all are happy about it. Don't be a douche bag and try to start something. I mean christ, people probably just saw your name by the thread and said "Meh..."

Sorry to say: Your opinion of me, means less to me than any rock beaneath another rock anywhere in the Gobi desert. rofl
Yet you do not make a post about rocks from the Gobi desert. :P