Just on CNN: plans for 3 Japanese hostages to be released!

[nodehopper]

No link yet, CNN just reported that via Al-Jazeera, said the hostages may be released b/c of a phone call from an Islamic leader to the insurgents.

Thank God, I hope they actually release them.

[jpgray]

1. If true, that's great news! (nt)

[Tinoire]

2. I had no doubts. They are not mercenary scum

There have been reports of reporters and the like who were taken hostage only to be released once they had convinced their Iraqi captors that they weren't collaborating mercs.

The Iraqis are not savages (contrary of course to what the neo-con lobby wants everyone to believe).

Good.

Passover is for the innocents & righteous only. These Japanese seemed like righteous people who were there to help. I'm glad they're getting released... As for the war loving mercenaries who are endangering our troops and all the innocents? - String them up!

[aquart]

3. Very smart. The quarrel's with us.

[Kemet]

4. Please let it be true. (nt)

[KissMyAsscroft]

5. I seriously doubt they will be released.

And if they are, it's because the Japanese government caved into the Iraqi's demands...not because of some phone call.

Think about it. You are a broke, pissed off starving Iraqi and you have these hostages. It's like gold to you. Would you just give them up, and give up all of your leverage just because an Islamic leader called you? Please. I don't buy this for a second. They would probably be arressted or killed as soon as they gave the hostages up anyway.

The Japanese are probably willing to pay them off to keep public support and keep Washington happy.

[stellanoir]

6. say a prayer. . .

they may have come to their senses following a rebuke from a cleric. My heart broke when I heard of that 18 year old kid who went to Iraq to offer humanitarian aid to the victims of depleted uranium. How will others ever be motivated to help if they are martyred?

[54anickel]

7. I think they will release them. Of course, it depends on who had them

to begin with. But the Iraqis do have great respect for the cleric leaders. The leaders are getting much sympathy and some support right now from different areas around the world. They are not going to allow that good will to be flushed like Shrub did after 9/11.

Their argument that an entire city is being punished is getting much play in the media and also much support. I think they will be released. I also believe that Japan will probably pull out after a proper amount of time passes from this event. Perhaps with the June transfer of power if not before.

[demdave]

11. Senior Iraqi cleric killed....some great respect here.

Published: 29-Aug-2003

A car bomb has exploded outside a mosque in Iraq killing more than 80 people - among them one of the country's most senior Shi-ite leaders, Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim.

Thursday, April 10, 2003


NAJAF, Iraq (CNN) -- A prominent Iraqi Shiite Muslim leader was assassinated Thursday in an attack that began inside the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, a family friend told CNN.

Islamic cleric Sayed Abdul Majid al-Khoei was the son of the Grand Ayatollah Abu al Qasim al-Khoei, a popular Shiite leader executed under Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's rule, said Saad Sayeh Faydh, a family friend.

Al-Khoei was shot inside the mosque, which Shiites venerate as the burial site of the prophet Muhammad's son-in-law, then dragged outside and stabbed to death, Faydh said

[lostnfound]

12. which proves nothing..that crime has not been solved, has it? nt

[NNN0LHI]

30. No, but Chimpy said he is guilty. And Chimpy would never lie to us n/t

[Cocoa]

9. we don't know who they are

so we don't know what their motivation is.

I hope they release them to demonstrate their humanity and expose all the talk of them being "evil" as the lie that it is.

[sspiderjohn]

8. I saw it, too -- a Sunni leader in Baghdad arranged it, apparently

nt

[Aidoneus]

10. Did they say which leader?

I know Sadr's commander in Baghdad, Qais al-Khazali, condemned the hostage-takings a day or two. I don't think they're behind that.

[gottaB]

28. I think it was the "Association of Muslim Scholars" (AMS)

Although variants have been reported by aj and on the wires.

Their spokesman is Sheik Mohammed al-Faidhy, aka Mohammed Bashar al-Faidhy.

They are a Sunni group.

[DrWeird]

13. Shouldn't they be called Prisoners of War?

I mean it's not like the Iraqis are terrorists.

[darkstar]

14. Kick for some good news

for a change

[starroute]

15. My guess is that the Japanese paid somebody off

It would make a lot of sense in terms of the way the Japanese tend to do things. Subtle, behind the scenes, they save face by not pulling out their troops, but the insurgents get something of value to them. Win-win all round.

(As opposed to us Americans, who always things that you can't win unless somebody else loses.)

[adriennui]

20. great news

i don't care what arrangements the japanese made, as long a they're safe.

[Blue_Tires]

16. good

I wasn't really looking forward to watching them burn alive on tv

[rumguy]

17. in the midst of all the killing, a bit of humanity shines through

these japanese were innocent...it gives me hope that they released them...they were there to help the Iraqis...

[TeeYiYi]

18. Here's the story . . .

Apr 10, 2:47 PM EDT

Report: Kidnappers to Release Japanese

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- The kidnappers of three Japanese taken hostage in Iraq said they will release them within 24 hours, the Arabic news channel Al-Jazeera reported on Saturday.

The kidnappers, identifying themselves as the "Muhahedeen Squadron," said they made the decision after mediation by the Islamic Clerics Committee, an Iraqi Sunni Muslim organization, Al-Jazeera reported.

In a statement, the kidnappers urged the Japanese public to press their government to withdraw its troops from Iraq, the station said.

Videotape delivered to Al-Jazeera, as well as Associated Press Television News, on Thursday showed the three Japanese - two aid workers and a journalist - blindfolded and threatened by masked men with guns and knives.

The kidnappers threatened to burn the hostages alive if Japan did not promise within three days to pull its troops out of Iraq.

Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAQ_JAPAN_HOSTAGES?SITE=ORSAL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

TYY

[eridani]

27. Some letters sent on behalf of the captives

By the name of God
Brothers of Saraya Al Mujahedeen

Al Salam Alaikum

God blesses you for what is good for our nation, our prayer for God to remove this grief from our country. We wish that you would receive this letter. God knows that it is honest letter, this letter is for God satisfaction and to inform you, what you don't know about your Japanese lady prisoner Nahoko. She is, as we saw that in Al Jazeera station, one of the three Japanese prisoners. We don't have any doubt that she and the other two Japanese will have gratifying care from you. Because our religion order that. And that is what we learned from our great grand fathers.

We are not writing this letter to evaluate what you have done, or what you planning to do. And also we are not writing this letter because we are supporter for coming of Japanese army either they are normal army or they are protect army to participate in rehabilitation of Iraq as Japanese Government is saying.

The only purpose of this letter and the photos attached is to let you know that Nahoko is last person which should be taken as a hostage, in case you must take hostages. This Japanese lady was very desirous from May 2003 to be in Baghdad voluntary and personally. And from that date she is spending her personal money to feed, clothe and treat the homeless Iraqi children. Till she spend all money she was saved for herself a long the years. In the last time she traveled to Japan her planning was to work for one and half month to make some money and to come back to Iraq to spend it for Iraqi homeless children. But she made heavy operation, therefore she couldn't save enough money able her to bring gifts for the children, whom they are still waiting for their Japanese mother Nahoko. You took her as a hostage in the same day that so many people were waiting for her in Baghdad.

Brothers of Saraya Al Mujahedeen, in behalf of our self and many Iraqi orphan children, we entreat you to release the three Japanese hostages, specially Nahoko as she is was content with only bread to feed her self, while she was buying palatable food for our kids. She is good example for the love of Japanese people for Iraqi people.

If God wishes and you released those three Japanese you will give Japanese people good chance to do what we and you want. Japanese people were always in the friend's side, in the Iraqi causes. While many of our brothers in religion and nation were watching only.

The imperative is for God
AL Salam Alaikum
Group of active Iraqi in orphan's field

9/4/2004

Dear friends,

I sent a copy of this letter to the Office of the Prime Minister in Japan. Would you know of a way to reach the people who have taken the Japanese people as hostage?

Pupak
------------------------------

10th April, 2004
Hartfield, UK


Dear People,


I am a Japanese citizen who grew up as a Muslim in Iran. I lived through the war with Iraq for eight years. I know how unreasonable and merciless war is.

Now you have captured three Japanese people. They are all good people who came there to help the people of Iraq. Like yourselves they oppose the SDF to be in Iraq.

Perhaps you did not know who they were when you took them as hostage. Perhaps it was a random act.

Your demand that SDF should leave Iraq is perfectly moral. If a man broke into my house and started to run my business, I should do the same. But the SDF will not leave, not right now.

And the innnocent people should not be killed for the wrongdoings of the powerholders.

Please consider this. The killing of the people will not only incur deep deep agony on their friends and family, it will be a dagger in the body of all the people who sympathise with the innocent, with the people of Iraq and with the courageous humanitarian workers who are there. The killing of the innocent people will only turn the righteous anger of the ordinary, peace-seeking people against you.

If you let them live and let them go, the world will celebrate your courage and your humanity. It takes more courage to practice compassion than cruelty, this our noble prophet Mohammed exemplified again and again. Please remember that we are all people who want to live fulfilled lives. Yourselves and the three Japanese people in your hands. Let them have their lives, so you can have your lives. And we will shed tears of joy instead of tears of unerasable sorrow.

Yes, you are living under intolerable pressures, and you put intolerable pressures on the lives of your captives. And this path shall not free you of the oppression of the superpowers. Return the captives to the people, and the people's power will be with you. The real power of humanity belongs to those who can commit human acts, like understanding, forgiveness, compassion. That's why those three Japanese people are in your country. Do not be part of the brutality and madness that grotesque abuse of power has brought to your country.

The family of Mr. Imai, Mrs. Takato and Mr. Koriyama is humanity. Please join us, and allow us to stop the violence and senseless killings of brothers. Instead we need to treat the real cause of war and violence.

Please let peace in your country start with you. This will be historic moment that will be remembered throughout time.

May you know and act with the power of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.


Pupak Haghighi

[Bride of Cthulhu]

19. this is great news

:-)

[Aidoneus]

21. We are held hostage to hypocrisy

Fucking THOUSANDS of Iraqis are being held hostage by the invaders, but it's only when some foreigners are seized that it's a "crisis". :eyes:

[NNN0LHI]

22. Japan must be leaving Iraq n/t

[wryter2000]

23. Thank heaven

And thank Allah for that Islamic holy man, whoever he is.

[Zech Marquis]

24. excellent news!

Even though the Jietai has been deployed to Iraq--much to the diapproval of about 90 percnt of the public's opinion--they'renot actually going on any armed patrols nor engaing the Iraqis. So apparently some Islamic group talked with the kidnappers and said,"they're not worth the trouble, let 'em go home". :-) A big sign of relief!

added: does this mean Japan will leave Iraq?I understand the purpose--helping rebuild while not actually going into/or looking for a fight--this wuld have been better with UN approval and support. Koizumi joining up with * was dumb. Like someone else said, you can be sure some money was offered behind the scenes, or more humanitarian aid. A withdrawl...not immediately, but before June 30th.

[LiberalBushFan]

25. um..... I swear I read there were more than 3 captured

including some Koreans? What of them? Or should we ignore the bad news?

[ktranz]

26. a couple days ago

the koreans were realese by these same people

[leesa]

29. Wonder who is holding them hostage and what Cheney offered to set

them free on his little Asian trip.

[Chicago Democrat]

31. I so hope it is true.. The poor fools went there to help people.

But anything or anyone associated with this illegal occupation inevitably becomes a target. Bush is to blame. The hubris of the Bush administration directly causes responses like this.

[dArKeR]

32. Can someone please post the pic of 'KOIZUMI YOU GO TO IRAQ'

http://www.iol.co.za/ cover pic.

Thanks


Related story but no pic at this link:
By Linda Sieg

Tokyo - "The weight of a human life is heavier than the earth itself."

That was how, in 1977, Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda explained why he paid a ransom of $6-million (about R36-million) to extremists who had hijacked a Japanese jet and landed it in Dhaka, Bangladesh, threatening to kill those on board if their demands were not met.

Nearly three decades on, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has taken the opposite tack, vowing not to cave in to "despicable terrorist threats" by withdrawing Japanese troops from Iraq.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=3&art_id=qw1081595341749B262&set_id=1

Now we need this signs in America for Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld.

[ktranz]

33. according to the statement

they found out that the 3 japaneses were actually helping Iraqis, not spies.

----http://japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=1&id=294674

The militant group also released a statement to Al-Jazeera on its decision to free the hostages. The group says:

— It will free the Japanese hostages in 24 hours in response to a call from the Islamic Clerics Committee for an immediate release.

— It has confirmed through its own sources that the three have not been cooperating with the occupation forces and were helping Iraqi citizens.

— It made the decision also out of consideration for the pain of the hostages' families and in respect of the Japanese public's stance toward the issue.

— It wants the Japanese public to pressure the Japanese government to withdraw its troops from Iraq because the dispatch is illegal.

— Japanese politicians do not represent the Japanese public but instead are agents for the criminals U.S. President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

— The U.S. injured Japanese people by dropping nuclear bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The same thing is happening in Fallujah.

— It is not considering targeting foreign citizens.

— The holy war will continue until victory.