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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippines: Italian hostage marks 100th day in captivity |
| 2009-04-25 |
| [ADN Kronos] As it marked the 100th day in captivity of Italian aid worker Eugenio Vagni in the Philippines, the Red Cross has renewed its appeal to government security forces to ensure his safe release. Head of operations for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Alain Aeschlimann, appealed to troops to do nothing that would compromise Vagni's safety. "We maintain close contact with all those trying to find a solution to this crisis, in particular the local and national authorities," he said in a statement on the Red Cross website. "The ICRC reiterates that Eugenio's safety is of paramount importance. We are once again asking all those involved in this crisis to avoid taking any action that could compromise Eugenio's safety." Sixty-two year-old Vagni is reportedly suffering from a hernia making it difficult for him to walk. Aeschlimann said his appeal was even more important considering Vagni's medical condition and asked Islamist militants from the separatist Abu Sayyaf to release the Italian hostage. "We are also renewing our appeal to the abductors' sense of humanity, especially in the light of Eugenio's medical situation. We urge them to release our colleague safe and sound, immediately and unconditionally," he said. In the past few days, there have been conflicting media reports that Vagni, a doctor, may have been transferred to another rebel group, while his brother Francesco expressed frustration from the family's home town of Montevarchi, near the central Tuscan city of Arezzo. Vagni was abducted with Swiss colleague Andreas Notter and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba in Sulu on the southern island of Jolo on 15 January. Lacaba was released on 2 April while Notter was freed last Saturday. Aeschlimann said Vagni's abduction had a severe impact on staff in the Philippines and elsewhere, but that the Red Cross was continuing to work with tens of thousands people who had been displaced in central Mindanao as a result of armed conflict. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 ahh but the Red Crescent does provide ambulances to ferry Hamas fighters |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-04-25 15:53 |
| #2 In times of war between more or less civilized countries (e.g., US and Germany in WWII), the International Red Cross is invaluable for providing information about POWs. The American Red Cross does a lot of good work during natural disasters. However, in today's war between civilization and Islam, the International Red Cross is much less useful. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2009-04-25 15:44 |
| #1 I'm sure all the publicity Abu Sayyaf is getting is doing wonders for recruitment, and may be the primary reason for keeping ol' Eugenio. The Red |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2009-04-25 14:09 |