alan johnston is feared dead (1 Viewer)

[La La]

a group has come forward saying they are responsible for his death - i really fucking hope this is not true. BBC are kind of at their wits end.......

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6557779.stm

 

[Bellatrix]

This is appallingly sad.

Also purposeless.

 

[TrueLoveWaits]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6559619.stm

they still don't have confirmation either way, can you imagine what this must be doing to his family? I must say, I have immense respect and admiration for journalists who put themselves on the line in situations like this in order to report the truth. Christina Lamb for instance, that woman is fantastic - she did a series of articles for the Sunday Times a while back from inside Zimbabwe, which was an incredibly brave and dangerous thing to do. She was so frustrated at the lack of knowledge and awareness of the complete misery and desperation of the situation there...as am I. Anyway, my point is that these people risk their lives to try and report the reality of situations so far removed from our daily lives...I deeply admire that.

 

[La La]

it's always terrible when someone goes missing but there's something about the abduction of journalists that really gets my goat. i remember being completely captivated when jill carroll was being held - wondering what on earth was going on. i really feel for the families though, i cannot imagine what kind of torment johnston's must be going through. an unconfirmed rumour like this must be driving them delirious with worry.

 

[TrueLoveWaits]

That's it exactly...at least if someone could say "ok, it's true, he is dead", it would be fucking terrible but at least there could be closure...but this...oh it doesn't bear thinking about. Anyway, here's hoping he comes back alive.

 

[magicbastarder]

hasn't done his career any harm:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6643553.stm

 

[Janer]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6647485.stm

:\

 

[La La]

interesting yarn janer, but what does a lost penguin have to do with this abduction?

 

[Janer]

Read between the lines and you will see that Alan Johnston is actually alive.

 

[La La]

video has been released

people have no idea when it was recorded.
he sounds like he's talking under duress

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6710863.stm

 

[RSJ]

It's promising all the same.

 

[the strange guy]

He's grown a bit of a mop, not sure if it looks like 2.5 month's growth though. If he's not being fed well, it could well be.

I hope he's safe. You don't know what's going on behind the scenes, what kind of negotiations are taking place, whether there's going to be some kind of prisoner swap etc. Still, as RSJ said, it's promising news.

 

[La La]

latest video sees him wearing a vest with explosives attached - how awful for him and his family

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6235754.stm

 

[Johnnyc]

What's Billy Connolly's take on all this?

 

[Janer]

He's freed....
You can now chill out Lala.

 

[the strange guy]

Oh thank fuck. I'm delighted!
He's got a bestseller on his hands now!
Any idea if the kidnappers' demands were met?

 

[La La]

im delighted his ordeal is over. and yes, he most definitely has a book in him now

 

[oh shit]

this thread was totally uncalled for

 

[magicbastarder]

and yes, he most definitely has a book in him now

you'd think the least they could do was feed him with decent food.

 

[Janer]

Oh thank fuck. I'm delighted!
He's got a bestseller on his hands now!
Any idea if the kidnappers' demands were met?

As far as I know most def not.
Hamas put alot of pressure on this group who kidnapped him....Hamas are totally isolated at the moment and needed a bit of joy and be seen to have some "normality".