A story broke today about a pair of journalists who were kidnapped and held in captivity in Somalia for fifteen months, who were freed after their families reportedly paid US$1m in ransom to the kidnappers. Presumably these journalists aren't from rich families, or I imagine the family would have been much quicker to produce a ransom to secure their release.
Obviously this is a story with a happy ending, unlike many other stories of people held in captivity in Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. I remember reading a story not long ago about a couple who were held in the Congo (I think) for something like 10 years before escaping.
I always find these stories incredible for two reasons - the story itself is amazing for obvious reasons. But I also find it amazing how long these people are often held captive before their release. The truth is that many kidnap victims from these countries could be freed much sooner if the perps were paid their asking ransom. The families can rarely afford the ransom, so often it goes unpaid for a long time. It worries me that if myself or a close friend/family member were ever subject to capture that my government wouldn't be willing to help pay a ransom.
I understand that governments are reluctant to do deals with criminals, but the life of a country's citizens be of utmost importance to the nation? Considering these ordeals are rare, I would have thought respective governments would be more willing to help their citizens, but obviously they aren't. Considering the brutal deaths that often follow failure to pay, this bothers me.
Penny for your thoughts?
if the government were to pay the ransom asked, would that not encourage kidnappers to abduct more people from the particular country making the risk to the countries people even greater? i think by not bailing the very few who do get taken out, the government is actually protecting the greater population- usual story of sacrifice one to save the masses??
I'm going with Mike on this one. But can't you get insurance for this? I mean it's Somalia and you're a journalist; this shit just writes itself. I didn't even bother reading the story as I could pretty much assume it follows the usual kidnapped journalist story.
When I went to Oz about a month ago, I got southern cross travel insurance. I was briefly scanning through the terms and conditions and iirc there was a 500k or 1m cover in the case of a kidnapping.
Definately agree though that if a govt started paying out ransoms then it would just encourage that kind of behaviour.
Edit: looking back at it its 250k for individual and 500k for a family in the case of a kidnapping
Yeah governments should definately NOT pay ransoms ... and if they did I would get a mate to 'kidnap' me and then we would share the ransom money. But yeah, the Aussie Government shoulda sent commandos in, they just sit around and train all day, they would love to drop into somalia and claymore some terrorist scum, I heard black ops are just like Call of Duty anyway so it would be hella fun. Especially if the Ozzy SAS got multi kill bonuses ... COMBO!!!!!!!!!!
By claymore I hope you mean a giant fucking sword. Nothing says you're a BAMF like running around with a claymore in the modern era
Yeah I'm with you all on the not bailing people out with ransom payouts...and seriously you go to these countries knowing the dangers so you should really be prepared, it's like investing money, if you don't have any way out of the shit when the worst case scenario happens you shouldn't be doing it
I would be very surprised if ANY insurance company covered you for kidnapping in Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.
They do help us. They say here that "Extreme risk - destinations where we advise against all travel. New Zealanders in these areas should leave" in other words GTFO you're going to get your ass kidnapped.
I'm actually more surprised that you don't think the insurance exists.
Well if you weren't going to insure places you were likely to be kidnapped then it would defeat the purpose of getting kidnap and ransom insurance. Unless you were really afraid of Canadians or perhaps the Norwegians. Insurers have these blokes out the back somewhere and they actually work out the risk and make plans and prices accordingly. Incredible isn't it.
Well if a surprise is what you want prepare my friend, to be surprised
warterrorisminsurance.com
Clements
AIG
This one has a branch in Te Puke
The question really becomes which provider is right for you, being that you have options and all.