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The forgotten four: kidnapped in 2006 but families still wait
No one knows whether they are dead or alive. The families of four South African men kidnapped in Baghdad in 2006 are desperate for news of their loved ones -- but fear that their plight has been forgotten, at home and in Iraq. Unlike the case of the recently freed British hostage Peter Moore and his four guards -- three died and one is missing -- no one has claimed responsibility for the South African hostage taking. No video has emerged and no ransom or political demands have been made. Instead, the families of Andre Durant, Johann Enslin, Callie Scheepers and Hardus Greef, all security guards, have endured 3½ years of unanswered questions and silence. Lourika Durant, whose husband, the father of her three children, is among the captives, refuses to give up. "I really hope that people read about this and maybe there will be somebody who can help give us a contact or let us know that they are alive," said Mrs Durant, 38, who works as a nurse in Pretoria. Pierre Durant, her brother-in-law, believes that he is the only person still actively looking for the men, who were seized at a rogue police checkpoint in the north east of the Iraqi capital on December 10, 2006. He has travelled to Iraq eight times to hunt for clues and to attempt to put pressure on the authorities to investigate the case. At one point in the past year he managed to speak to his brother on a mobile phone, raising hopes of a resolution, but the trail has since run cold. Mr Durant, 42, and other close relatives of the four hostages contacted by The Times, appealed to the kidnappers to show mercy. "We as a family are not looking for justice or retribution," Mr Durant said. "If these guys are alive then we want to negotiate for their release. If they've been killed then I just want their bodies back so we can try to get on with our lives." Thousands of people, mainly Iraqis, were kidnapped and held for ransom or political gain in the lawlessness that consumed the country after the 2003 invasion. Among them were more than 200 foreign hostages. Some, such as Mr Moore, were freed and others killed, while the rest are listed as missing. Lourika Durant, whose husband, the father of her three children, is among the captives, refuses to give up. "I really hope that people read about this and maybe there will be somebody who can help give us a contact or let us know that they are alive," said Mrs Durant, 38, who works as a nurse in Pretoria. My guess is if they're alive, they're in Iran by now. Posted by: Choling Snereque8970 2010-05-14 |
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