South Korean hostages face cool welcome home
SOUTH KOREA: South Korean hostages set free by Afghan rebels after
six weeks in captivity are likely to receive a mixed homecoming with
many awaiting their weekend arrival with relief but also seeing them as
largely to blame for their ordeal.
Seven remaining hostages were handed over to officials of the
International Committee of the Red Cross in southeast Afghanistan late
on Thursday.
Twelve were freed on Wednesday and two earlier. Two of the 23
Christian volunteers abducted on July 19 had been killed.
“This crisis raised grave questions about the divide between the
country’s responsibility and the responsibility of individuals,” the
mainstream JoongAng Ilbo newspaper said in an editorial on Friday.
The six-week hostage ordeal gripped the country, leading thousands to
hold candlelight vigils praying for the hostages’ safe return.
At the same time, many people harshly criticised the suburban Seoul
church that sent the group to Afghanistan and the volunteers themselves
for ignoring numerous government warnings and making an ill-advised
mission to an obvious danger spot.
“They did a great disservice to the government and to the people, and
also disgraced the honour of the country,” said Chung Kyung-joon, a
23-year-old resident of Seoul. “They must pay a price for that.”
South Korea, which is sensitive to how it is perceived in the
international community, has been criticised by some governments after
it struck a deal with the Taliban.
The government was praised at home after the Taliban began freeing
the hostages on Wednesday for its part in securing the release. But some
said Seoul may have set a dangerous precedent in directly negotiating
with the Taliban.
There was relief among the public that the hostages and their family
members are now beginning to put the prolonged anguish behind them. Some
said the entire country learned an expensive lesson.
Choi Moon-young, 24, said the hostages deserved a compassionate
welcome home for what they had gone through.
“I know some people see them in a bad light, but they are coming back
alive and we should be happy about that.” The ordeal has left some of
the relatives divided, with one father considering a lawsuit against the
church and the government. It has also caused a rift among evangelical
churches.
Many church leaders said they have learned a grave lesson and would
be rethinking their missionary approach, but others said nothing in the
hostage crisis proved their work was misguided.
“The Christian community in Korea with its principle of love for our
neighbours cannot help expressing deep concern about the part in the
agreement of banning Christian missionary work in Afghanistan,” the
Korea World Missions Association said.
Seoul, Friday, Reuters
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