Comments on: Somalia: Release Paul and Rachel Chandler NOW!

By: L. Santangelo

L. Santangelo — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:02:24 +0000

G.I.F.C.A is an organization that negotiates the release of hostages taken by islamic militants. They have been successful in the Phillipines. It is run by Saif al Islam Muanmmar Al-Gaddafi (Libyan leader’s son). I thought I would leave a message, in case it might help.

By: Sunday

Sunday — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:15:14 +0000

Thank you Mr Buxton
I attempted to leave a message for Mr Miliband via Twitter
No effect – he doesn’t follow me
Therefore, using the link you gave above, I found his email and
I have emailed milibandd@parliament.uk today

“Dear Sir
[Full Article quote with link to this site started email...."We believe Rachel and Paul Chandler can be released provided the British government take the right steps..........] Followed by

Please do not reply with “The Government’s policy is ‘not making substantive concessions to hostage-takers.’ It has already been stated by an MP that ‘a third-party payment of a ransom to pirates would not be illegal under UK law.’ Although seeing as the Government then blocked a third party ransom payment, perhaps another option could be the aforementioned above?

Please address this if you can
Most sincerely, and in hope
A Concerned Voter”

In Hope indeed.
I REALLY felt for them over Christmas – and still

By: Bob Buxton

Bob Buxton — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:15:03 +0000

Can I suggest that everyone who wants to help achieve the Chandlers’ release should email their MP. There is a list of MPs and constituencies on the website http://www.parliament.uk/directories/directories.cfm . I did this and it resulted in a response from Ivan Lewis, Secretary of State, in which he states the Government’s policy of ‘not making substantive concessions to hostage-takers.’ He goes on to refute the claims that the Government blocked a ransom payment but points out that ‘a third-party payment of a ransom to pirates would not be illegal under UK law.’

There are two points to be made: firstly, although anyone else who writes to their MP is likely to receive the same result, at least there will be a groundswell of public opinion made apparent to the Government (politicians need votes after all). The second point is that I take Mr Lewis’s response to mean that if any individual or organisation can provide the ransom money, the Government will not stand in the way. Perhaps this provides a glimmer of hope.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:03:59 +0000

I feel like admin – Rachel is a lovely woman and deserves the best that life could give her not this. These pirates are despicable.

By: admin

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:50:34 +0000

“the PEOPLE” are people who are supporting the efforts to free Paul and Rachel

By: fact

fact — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:08 +0000

who are your “the PEOPLE”?

By: admin

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:23:46 +0000

The UK government is sticking with their position on this. This is why the PEOPLE are standing up and acting on this.

By: samia

samia — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:19:55 +0000

I really feel for these poor people. Is there a site to go to where people can write to the govt to ask for the to act ? I feel these people have been abandoned largely and without family to hlep them could easily just disappear. please post a link if there is a site to go to to write or act somehow in their favor. thanks