Imad Shihab advises: ‘Be grateful for a negotiation in today’s world. So often in Iraq in the past it has been impossible to negotiate. They were simply not interested in money or in the welfare of their victim. If they are willing to negotiate, you need to come to them open-handed.’
After the Iraq war in 2003 kidnapping became the favourite weapon of many small groups of fighters. Money was earned passing a hostage up the chain from criminal gangs to those with a political agenda. It became common to watch the pixillated videos of hostages in distress in the moments leading up to their horrible murders. The media coverage had become an incentive for kidnappers. Since around 2005 there has been an unwritten agreement within the media not to broadcast the manipulation and revolting treatment of hostages. The media decided that broadcasting kidnap videos was increasing the value of the hostages – and audiences were telling them that they did not like seeing the videos.
Since then the kidnapping has not stopped, and the pictures keep coming into newsrooms, but the agreement not to broadcast has removed the glamour. The publicity has gone away and so have the excesses of 2004–5.
/WHAT OTHERS CAN DO
There are very few organizations that offer help for hostages and their families, but www.HostageUK.com can give you support and point you in the right direction. The government or company your relative or friend is working for should also be making efforts to get them out. But at the end of the day it’s the families and friends who will be the real drivers of the negotiation. Sue Williams says you should never underestimate the power of their work:
‘The families, ordinary people, will become extraordinary, finding an inner strength to keep fighting for freedom. They will be supported by and seek comfort within their social network and local community. Everyone will be watching the media. Friends who have not spoken for years will be in touch. Prayers, vigils, concerts, petitions and many similar activities will be taking place.
‘Board members will be chairing crisis meetings and making difficult decisions against the backdrop of “getting it wrong”. Co-workers will be circulating updates.
‘Governments will be applying diplomatic pressure directly or indirectly and searching for the individual or group that wields influence and will be key to a hostage release.
‘Many people who have never met the hostage will be making his or her release a priority and letting the safety of a stranger take over their own lives.’
/WHAT ARE THE KIDNAPPERS THINKING?
If you know how to approach your captors, you can do as much work on getting released from the inside as people can do on your behalf on the outside. Imad Shihab recommends: ‘Know who your kidnappers are. The fine details of their politics and their history are vital to any negotiation. Know why they targeted you. Is your value political or financial?’
Qais Azimy is one of the best journalists I have ever met. He works in Kabul for Al Jazeera English, but could put his skills to use anywhere in the world. His ability to negotiate himself into and out of anything has saved his life several times. He recalls: ‘I was kidnapped by the Taliban in 2007 and what I learnt is not to give up. At that time, when we were kidnapped for 38 hours, they said every hour that they would kill us in the next hour. But we didn’t give up; we tried and tried to win them over. They were open to understanding. We opened their brains to the idea that every foreigner was not a George Bush.
‘I was with a British journalist at the time and he put my life at threat because of his race, his non-Muslim status. I was praying all the time. My belief at that time grew. Whatever religion you are, you become more religious because you see all other roads blocked. You are waiting for magic to happen. Then it did – the kidnappers changed their opinion. They released us. When we left we wanted to send off the story, but there was another truck waiting to kidnap us again. I learnt to expect the unexpected, not to let my guard down.’
Sue Williams stresses the need to find common ground with your kidnappers: ‘You need to get them to see things from your point of view. They are scared too. They have families too. This can be used to your advantage.
‘Attempting to change your status from hostage or commodity to human being is essential. This is achieved by personalization. Talk about your family and home; use your first name and theirs. It is less likely for them to hurt someone who has become a personality.’
Part of that is standing your ground, as Qais Azimy illustrates: ‘In 2009 I was arrested by the Afghan Army. It felt like I was kidnapped. I had no contact with the outside world. I was blindfolded and they took me to a ditch, and I could hear gun noises, like they were going to kill me. They were pretending, but I didn’t give up. If you give up they will think you are guilty and that they are doing the right thing. Fight for your life.’
In most cases kidnappers will be balancing your value against the danger that they will be caught. When this calculation tips far enough in either direction you are likely to be released. It is worth the wait. You need to sit tight. The advice from everyone I have spoken to in the writing of this chapter is that rushed rescues often lead to disaster.
This softly, softly approach is supported by Qais Azimy, who told me a sad story: ‘Sultan Munadi was a close friend of mine. He was kidnapped with New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell in 2009. He had such experience in the field and had never been kidnapped, but he died in the rescue by special forces. They killed him even though he shouted “Journalist! Journalist!” They should have fought for his release before the operation was carried out. In my opinion, they wanted to downplay the importance of the hostages to the Taliban.’
Mohammed Hersi has played both sides of the kidnap game – as a pirate, and now as part of the fledgling Somalian anti-piracy force. He advises hostages to stand their ground: ‘My advice to anyone passing through the Gulf of Aden is to carry a weapon and defend yourself. Do not make it easy for the pirates. Resist handing over a ransom. It is keeping the pirate business alive.
/HOW TO AVOID BEING KIDNAPPED
There is actually little you can do to prepare, but keeping your wits about you never goes amiss.
Enlist someone local to help you negotiate a safe route to wherever you are going. Someone who can tell you how to dress, how to act and what car to drive. In Iraq at one point there was a single ‘ruler’ of each area, or each street in some cases. If he wasn’t happy for you to pass through, you were in danger of being kidnapped or killed. Sometimes safe passage will take a cup of tea and a handshake; at other times it could involve hundreds of dollars. You might think it unreasonable, but far worse would be for them to think you unreasonable.
Avoid making yourself a target. If you are exceptionally rich or working for a rich company, or if you are carrying a lot of cash, never let it be known unless necessary. If you have kidnap and ransom (K & R) insurance, or you have been told that your company has, do not let anyone around you know.
Be aware of new people around you, new cogs in the wheels that keep you safe as you move from A to B. Make sure you have someone you trust in charge of vetting the people close to you.
Try to look and act as if you are not worth much. This is most important when meeting new people so that they do not know you have any kidnap value.
Always let trusted people know your movements: where you are going, when you will be back, or when you are likely to call in to let them know you are safe. Give your call list (see Emergency Numbers) to someone you can trust.
If you are lucky and your organization has taken out K & R insurance, a whole team of trained negotiators will kick into action. You might even have Sue Williams looking after you. However, you are unlikely to know if this insurance is in place, and it’s better that you don’t. If you are kidnapped, you might reveal it to your kidnappers, and suddenly you are more valuable. For the same reason, nobody else should know if you have K & R insurance; they will understand the value it carries in potential ransom payout.
If the insurance is in place, it is the ins
urance company’s job to get you out alive, and that often means throwing money at the problem – money that a family or company might not otherwise have been able to afford.
It is worth pointing out the possibility of K & R insurance to your boss if you think you might be in real danger. It is also possible to take out such insurance yourself.
If you find yourself in the horrible position of being a hostage, James Brandon offers the following advice about how to conduct yourself: ‘During my interrogation, every minute or so a man cocked a gun, put it against my head and pulled the trigger. I never knew if there would be a bullet in the next chamber. When my feet started shaking I pushed down hard to hide it from the kidnappers. I knew that if they knew I was afraid it would give them more power – and make them contemptuous of me.’
Sadly, the stress of being kidnapped can have long-lasting traumatic effects even when it’s all over. And this can affect not only the hostage, but family and friends too. Everyone will have been through hell. Chapter 15 offers advice on how to handle and treat trauma. It also includes a list of books and people you can turn to for further help.
Be aware of propaganda. Be aware how you might be used to manipulate a story. As an aid worker, I was always aware that I might be killed and used by the other side as propaganda. Dr Carl Hallam
14/ Surviving in Potential Trouble Spots
Approach people with innocence and a confident manner. Never assume a group you are approaching will be against you. If you go in with fear or expecting trouble, you will get into trouble. Wadah Khanfar, director-general of Al Jazeera
So far this book has focused on places where war is actively being waged. Now it’s time to look at some other potential trouble spots.
Among my colleagues it’s become a cliché to talk about holidaying in George W. Bush’s ‘axis of evil’. After all, it’s where many of them spend most of their working lives. However, countries such as Iran, Myanmar, North Korea and Yemen are places of mystery and rumour to many people, and what they see of them in the news can make them seem a little scary.
Whenever I’m going somewhere new I find a little advice from people in the know helps me to dismiss preconceptions and begin to root my understanding in the human culture of a place rather than its politics. So let’s take a look at some of the less well-known trouble spots and get some insight from people who know them.
/IRAN
Nazanin Sadri was working as a journalist in Tehran during the 2009 post-election riots. They were violent, and dozens of journalists were targeted by the government and thrown into prison during and even after the demonstrations. It took brave protesters and bold journalism to bring the story to the world via the Internet and other means. For Naz it involved an even more careful balancing act. Her family is Iranian and she did not want to put any of them at risk. As a woman too it was far harder for her to go unnoticed.
For men, Iran is a relatively simple place – difficult from a surveillance and legal point of view, but basically a safe place if you stick to the rules, which are mostly to do with paperwork and deference to the right people. One of the rules is to avoid body contact with women. Be aware of this if you have women around you. You will not be allowed to enter some places because there are women present. Make sure you ask before walking around someone’s house or office. And be patient: the bureaucracy will lead you somewhere…eventually. Don’t expect things to move at a normal pace, or for anything to be open when you expect it to be.
This is Naz’s advice for other women planning on travelling to the Islamic Republic of Iran:
‘Of course, the most important thing for a woman is to remember her headscarf. This does not have to be anything heavy duty. Nowadays it’s easy, given the popularity of pashminas and other scarves. People spend a lot of time worrying that they are showing too much hair, but that’s not normally a big problem, unless you are in one of the more religious towns or government buildings. Scarves can be any colour or style, but it’s a good idea always to have a conservative black one on hand. And make sure it’s cotton, not silk or any other material. You will be running round, stuck in traffic, eating and working in it the whole time, so it’s best that it doesn’t bother you too much. You just want it to stick on your head and cover your neck. If you want, you could get a bib-type of thing, like nuns wear. Have a look in the local market when you get there.
‘As for the rest of the body – cover the arms and bum, and the legs at least down to your knees. In winter, you can wear a normal winter coat (I once saw a woman stitch two airline blankets together to make a poncho for herself before she landed as she had forgotten to bring a coat). In summer pick something loose, cotton and easy to walk around in. For obvious reasons it should not be too tight or skimpy. Some people get away with a long shirt over some baggy trousers, like a shawa khameez.
‘For attending government events, mosques and funerals and visiting the holy city of Qom you will need a chador – a massive piece of black cloth. You can buy or borrow this once you’re in the country. They give them out at mosques before you enter. Just drape it over you and keep your normal scarf and coat on underneath. It’s uncomfortable and a pain, but you’ll get used to it.
‘Generally speaking, try not to show your legs or ankles. Even in the summer when it is hot, if I’m wearing flat shoes, I always carry a pair of black socks in case I’m going somewhere that’s a bit more conservative. Avoid bare feet.
‘Don’t shake hands with official figures and government types unless they put their hand out. Don’t initiate a handshake yourself. In public don’t hold hands, hug or kiss members of the opposite sex on the cheek. You will see Iranian people do this, but if you’re just working there, I think it’s best to keep safe and generally give an air of modesty.
‘In working situations you will be surrounded by men and spending a lot of time drinking small cups of tea as you gather information, permissions and so forth. Stay patient – it’s quite bureaucratic. Take tea if it’s offered – it breaks the ice.
‘Being a woman can actually be an advantage. For example, if I find myself surrounded by a lot of men, as in government departments, I tend to flatter them, ask them about their wives and children. There are few places where you can’t go – but make sure you ask before going anywhere, just in case. You don’t want to wander into a politically or religiously sensitive place.
‘Iranians like foreigners a lot and are very hospitable towards them. Don’t take it as a threat if someone chats to you in the street or opens up the subject of politics. They are just interested in what you’re doing there.’
/MYANMAR
The country formerly known as Burma is a difficult place to work in or visit. The government is especially hostile towards their old colonizers, the British, but they are equally harsh on their own people if they consider them to have been disloyal to the country. It takes very little for them to leap to judgement. So whether you are travelling as a tourist or otherwise, you need to be extra cautious in your behaviour. If you get caught doing something the authorities don’t like, the chances are that you will have tainted everyone you came into contact with along the way.
A former colleague of mine is now an NGO worker in Myanmar. He has been there for years – through the government suppression of the monk-led riots of 2007, and cyclone Nargis a year later, which killed an estimated 134,000 people and devastated the most fertile parts of the country. He has chosen to remain anonymous because he wants to be as honest as possible in explaining why, despite the repressive government, everyone should visit the beautiful country that has become his home and, to him at least, is ‘the safest country on Earth’.
‘According to George W. Bush’s administration, Myanmar is an “outpost of tyranny”, not quite an “axis of evil”, but a badass place nonetheless. It is indeed true that the country has a less than charming military dictatorship that is hopelessly inadequate at governing, and is sometimes described by expats as a “kleptocracy” or “ineptocracy
” whose sole aim is to strip the country of its abundant natural resources, pocketing what they can and putting nothing back into the “Union”. These sad old men in green, paranoid to a fault, bicker and quibble amongst themselves in their malarial jungle lair while stuffing their Singapore bank accounts with ill-gotten gains and waxing lyrical about democracy and a “discipline flourishing nation”.
‘Here are a few pointers to keep you out of the local prisons and on the straight and narrow. First and foremost you have to know who to trust. When you step off the banana boat, all fresh faced and doughy eyed, you cannot help but be charmed and seduced by the long-suffering and repressed locals. Their hospitality is second to none, their charm is engaging, their smiles are enough to melt the polar ice-caps, their devotion to Buddhism undeniable. But be warned, for beneath a veneer of all these qualities lurk some of the most conniving, double-crossing, two-faced backstabbers ever encountered. They would sell their soul and that of their mother for a few thousand kyat. Fortunately, most of the people aren’t like that – they are the loveliest you are likely to meet. But when they are bad, they are really bad.
‘Corruption is rife. It is impossible to do anything in Myanmar without having to pay “outside money” or “tea money”. Accept this and you will not be driven mad at having to pay a bribe so that your telephone line is not routinely cut by the very people who are meant to be maintaining it. Fight against it and you will age at an alarmingly fast rate. In this respect the country is rotten to the core, which to my mind is the single largest obstacle holding the country back, preventing it from joining the rest of Asia in “developing”.
‘Do not talk politics. Most importantly, do not discuss politics with a local unless they bring it up with you. This is potentially a fast-track way for the local to head straight to jail. It is also the best way for you to get thrown out of the country and never be allowed back.
How to Avoid Being Killed in a War Zone Page 24