DOCSLIB.ORG

Infomart.Ca Canada's Source for Research, Media Monitoring and Company Information

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Infomart.Ca Canada's Source for Research, Media Monitoring and Company Information FPinfomart.ca Canada's source for research, media monitoring and company information. Loney recounts anguish as captive Sault Star (On) Wednesday, March 7, 2007 Page: A1 Section: Front Byline: Michael Purvis Source: Idnumber: 200703070003 Length: 707 words If James Loney could talk to his captors now, he says escape from his handcuffs using a trick he learned he would try to impress on them some of the anguish from a movie. they have caused. As the anniversary of Loney's rescue at the hands of "I think I'd like them to really know about Tom (Fox, British special forces draws near, the former hostage an American who was murdered) and I'd like them to said he has returned to the area where he grew up to know the suffering that they caused by what they pore over the notes he took during his captivity. did," Loney told a packed lecture theatre at Algoma University College on Tuesday. "We asked for notebooks and (our captors) gave them to us, so what I did was I sort of imagined what we "I would love to know the truth about what they were were living as a play," Loney said in an interview. doing, why they were doing it, what are their lives like, what led them to do this," said Loney, who He has been staying at his parents' cottage on St. reiterated that he has forgiven the men who held him Joseph Island since January, writing out the bits of hostage. dialogue and events he jotted down. At AUC, Loney recounted the 118 days he spent as a "It's this thing that I want to come out of the prisoner in Iraq, handcuffed to his fellow captives. captivity, that I was almost obsessed with," said Much of the time he felt as if he were "watching from Loney. another room," including when Fox was separated from fellow Christian Peacemaker Teams members, He is unsure what will become of the play. He said in the days before he was found shot to death. now he is concentrating on putting it down on paper. Loney said that at times during his captivity he felt he Loney and the two other hostages who were freed - could snap his handcuffs through "sheer rage." fellow Canadian Harmeet Sooden, and Briton Norman Kember - publicly forgave their captives in At other times he felt despair, particularly during a December. three-day period when he fell ill with pneumonia and a fever. Loney said he believes the hostage-takers are currently being held by the U.S., awaiting some kind "God had died, God did not exist; there was no of trial for kidnapping, which is a capital offence in reality but suffering and I had lots of fantasies or Iraq. ideas of just sliding into the abyss," Loney recalled. He said he has "very little information" on the Loney, who grew up in Sault Ste. Marie and process. graduated from St. Mary's College, was this year's speaker for the 10th annual Peter McGregor "Our own feeling is that we have no desire to punish Memorial Lecture, a free lecture night presented by (our captors), and what we would like is for them to AUC, Algoma Family Services and the Algoma be restored to the human community because that chapter of the Ontario Association of Social Workers. would be the best thing for them and for everyone around them who was part of their life," said Loney. Loney said the message of his speech was freedom, and the "many kinds of freedom" he has learned Loney won't return to Iraq - CPT no longer has a about. team there, and the former hostage has previously said the dangers are too great now that his "That's power, to hold a baby, or to care for someone homosexuality is public - but he said he will likely be who is dying or to be a servant, to serve others, to sent out to another part of the world as he makes a care, that is power," said Loney. return to his work with CPT. "What comes out of the barrel of a gun isn't really "There will be fear and butterflies, probably more freedom," he said. than there would normally be, but I would like to do that," said Loney. Loney's parents, Pat and Claudette Loney, attended Tuesday night's speech. James' father at one point © 2007 Osprey Media Group Inc. All rights reserved. prompted his son to tell the crowd how he was able to Page 1 FPinfomart.ca Canada's source for research, media monitoring and company information. Former hostage Loney to speak at AUC Sault Star (On) Friday, February 23, 2007 Page: A5 Section: Local News Byline: Source: Idnumber: 200702230027 Length: 215 words Illustration: Loney Freed hostage James Loney will speak at Algoma University College next month. The Toronto peace activist, who grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, will discuss the nearly four months he spent as a captive in Iraq and reflect on the relationship between nonviolence and the quest for authentic human freedom. "We try to bring a guest speaker who can raise awareness of social justice in a thoughtful, compassionate way," said Linda Savory- Gordon, a professor in AUC's social welfare department. "James Loney's experience, dedication to non-violence and reflections on both will challenge us on our own positions on these issues." Loney will tie in his experiences in global conflict with the day- to-day experience of violence within families. Loney and his fellow captives, Canadian Harmeet Sooden and Briton Norman Kember, were freed by coalition forces 118 days after being plucked from the streets of Baghdad in November 2005. Their American counterpart, Tom Fox, was found shot to death. The Christian Peacemaker Teams members who survived publicly forgave their kidnappers in December. The 10th annual Peter McGregor Memorial Lecture will take place March 6 at 7 p.m. in the Great West Life Amphitheatre. The free lecture night will be presented by AUC, Algoma Family Services and the Algoma chapter of the Ontario Association of Social Workers. © 2007 Osprey Media Group Inc. All rights reserved. Page 2 FPinfomart.ca Canada's source for research, media monitoring and company information. Here is a brief look at the major news events of Canada and the world Brantford Expositor (On) Saturday, December 30, 2006 Page: D23 Section: Special Byline: Source: Idnumber: 200612300090 Length: 2511 words JANUARY 24 - Rodney MacDonald, 34, becomes Canada's 10 - Iran removes UN seals from its nuclear youngest premier when he is sworn in Nova Scotia. enrichment facility at Natanz, effectively ending a freeze on the process that can produce fuel for 28 - Canadian Brig.-Gen. David Fraser takes nuclear weapons. command of coalition troops in southern Afghanistan. 23 - Stephen Harper's Conservatives win slim minority in Canada's 39th general election, ending 12 MARCH years of Liberal rule. Defeated prime minister Paul Martin resigns as Liberal leader. 1 -Marshall Rothstein is confirmed as the newest member of the Supreme Court. 25 - Frank McKenna resigns as Canada's ambassador to the United States. Hamas wins huge majority in 2 - Cpl. Paul Davis, and Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson Palestinian parliamentary elections as voters rejected are killed when their armoured vehicle runs off the the longtime rule of the Fatah party. road in Afghanistan. Former Beatle Paul McCartney and his wife Heather stage a seal hunt protest on ice 26 - Hudson's Bay, Canada's oldest company, accepts floes in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. $1.5-billion friendly takeover offer from U.S-based Maple Leaf Heritage Investments, headed by Jerry 5 - Underdog "Crash," directed by Canadian Paul Zucker. Haggis, wins best picture honours over "Brokeback Mountain" at the Academy Awards. 29 - Seventy-two miners are trapped after underground fire at potash mine in Esterhazy, Sask. 22 - The B.C. ferry Queen of the North goes off All are rescued after 30 hours. course, hits a rock and sinks off the coast of Prince Rupert, B.C. All but two of the 101 people aboard are 30 - Trial of accused serial killer Robert Pickton rescued. Basque militant group ETA announces officially begins in New Westminster, B.C. permanent ceasefire to end a decades-long campaign of terror aimed at winning independence for the FEBRUARY northern Spanish region. 1 - In final report on the federal sponsorship scandal, 23 - Canadian hostages James Loney and Harmeet Justice John Gomery proposes rules to make Sooden and a Briton, Norman Kember, were freed government more accountable and transparent. after being held for four months in Iraq. French and German newspapers republish caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in an effort to defend 29 - Pte. Robert Costall, 22, killed in a firefight in freedom of expression, re-igniting anger of Muslims Afghanistan. who were outraged when a Danish newspaper first printed the cartoons five months earlier. APRIL 2 - Sea King helicopter with five crew members 4 - Alberta's Ralph Klein, the country's aboard crashes in ocean off Denmark; all are rescued. longest-serving premier, announces plans to step down by the end of the year. Three Canadian- 3 - Red Sea ferry sinks after fire breaks out, killing Venezuelan brothers found dead outside Caracas 1,000 of the 1,400 people aboard. after being kidnapped by men dressed as police. 6 - Stephen Harper is sworn in as the 22nd prime 5 - Gail Vickery is named Alberta's first female chief minister of Canada. judge. 14 - Former Ontario premier Mike Harris tells 8 - The bodies of eight men with ties to the Bandidos judicial inquiry into the 1995 police shooting of a biker gang are found stuffed in four abandoned cars native protester that he uttered a profane slur at near Shedden in the worst mass killing in recent aboriginals at a meeting with police just before the Ontario history.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Justin Armitage Remembered Page 9
    Justin Armitage remembered The Breeze page 9 James Madison University's Student Newspaper Vul. 8 i, /ss|/c I lllllSllllll, Actor, activist speaks on SGA strength of democracy funds Dreyfuss addresses scholarship luncheon, urges two bills youth to take interest in proper political principles Delta Chi and m TOM BEFIT ER at the tendency to remove these obligations from CONTRIBUTING WR/TIR the forum of the general populace, to reserve them Hillel receive for higher institutions of "niche-learning", and, on a JMU held its annual Endowed Scholarship lower level, to "fold civics lessons into high school capital to travel Luncheon yesterday, al the Festival Conference histon classes, where the) lade into mythology." and Student Center Ballnxim. More than once he reminded his audience: "Ci- vt MARV CZARTSY About 400 scholarship recipients, donors .ind vility is the oxygen required by democracy." CONTUBUTtSC IVRJTER parents attended the luncheon, at which Academy Dreyfuss addressed, as well, the current me- Award-winning actor and political activist Richard dia climate and its tendency to promote shouting Tuesday night, the SGA Dreyfuss delivered the keynote speech. matches as a means of interpreting politics. granted two organizations funds Dreyfuss. who is currently an Oxford University "We no longer address our issues without the to support leadership develop- student, appeared in such films as "Jaws," "Close melodrama of name-calling and finger-pointing — ment conferences. Encounters of the Third Kind." and The Goodbye if I advocate teaching civics, I must have a hidden The Delta Chi Fraternity was drl," for which he won the Oscar for Best Actor in agenda.
    [Show full text]
  • Are You Saved? Paul and Salvation
    Are you saved? Paul and salvation Tom Yoder Neufeld I f we could ask Paul, “Are you saved?” I suspect he would respond, “How much time do you have?” Here I can do no more than sketch in rough strokes what Paul might have to say about salvation. But a sketch has several virtues: it gives us the outlines of what needs to be fleshed out more fully, and it leaves open that fleshing out in a way that respects the wide variety of contexts in which the gospel of salvation needs to be heard. Such sketching, incidentally, is exactly what Paul did in his letters, which were always context specific and thus serve as a model for us as we reflect on salvation in our contexts. Salvation’s wide horizon Today terms such as salvation, save, and saviour carry largely religious meaning. Not so in Paul’s day: one might be saved by a saviour from disease, natural disaster, oppres- Salvation is best sion, or war. When Paul himself uses salvation understood against (sòtèria) and related terms, they are usually the background of related to God, or more specifically to Christ, hopes and promises and sometimes even to his own activity as an for the whole world, apostle of Christ. But the term would have even as a closer continued to enjoy rich and varied associa- look shows that tions, thereby ensuring that salvation would particular communi- have signalled a wide horizon to Paul’s hearers ties and individuals and readers. are caught up in Several features mark out this horizon.
    [Show full text]
  • Mennonite Church USA 36 31 Opinion 56 Editorial on the COVER: Photo by Emily Ralph
    INSIDE: • Entertaining angels • Who needs reporters? • Worth getting your heart broken • Essentials for a good retirement • Digital dieting Doing better together “I can’t wait to get up every “I trust my Everence repre- morning to see what’s going sentative and think the to happen that day, who I world of him.” get to serve.” – Donna of Illinois, who – Steve, a longtime Everence wanted an advisor with a advisor faith connection “The help that Everence and “It’s nice to know the people members provide to us is and the values that surround very valuable and supports the nancial tools I use are our work with families.” similar to me and my beliefs.” – Ruth Ann and Louella, – Chris of Minnesota, food pantry volunteers member of Everence Federal Credit Union “Before we even met a “It’s been an excellent representative, we planned journey with Everence. I to do business with Everence. feel I am in good hands.” We like the stewardship – Mark of Pennsylvania, foundation that Everence has.” retired accountant who relies – Ted and Sue of Indiana, on Everence for a range of who purchased a senior nancial services health plan Join a community that helps people locally and around the world. Learn how today. (800) 348-7468 Everence.com Banking | Insurance | Investing | Retirement | Charitable Giving Everence offers credit union services that are federally insured by NCUA. Investments and other products are not NCUA or otherwise federally insured, may involve loss of principal and have no credit union guarantee. All products are not available in all states. July 2013 | Volume 16, Number 7 CONTENTS 12 A new journey —Emily Ralph 16 Questions to women leaders —Laura Glass-Hess 17 Entertaining angels —Don Clymer 20 Apprenticed to Christ —C.
    [Show full text]
  • 2007 Newsletter
    INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PEACE STUDIES AND GLOBAL PHILOS- OPHY Rhos y Gallt, Llanerfyl, Near Welshpool, Powys, Wales, SY21 OER Tel/Fax: 01938 820586 website: www.educationaid.net email: [email protected] Director, Thomas Clough Daffern B.A. (Hons) D.Sc. (Hon) PGCE email: [email protected] Tel. 01938 820586 Mobile: (m) 07951 600959 Secretary General, Mary Napper (B.A. Hons.) 01939 233834 email: [email protected] International Secretary: Sheena McDonagh 07779851739 [email protected] Olga Skerry, Development Coordinator, London 0207 341 7632 Mobile 0798 5590052 [email protected] Treasurer: Jenny Wheatcroft B.A. (Hons.) Tel. 00 64 4 2932987Email: [email protected] IIPSGP 2007 NEWSLETTER 1.EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION: Firstly, I thought I’d take this opportunity of the Newsletter to let you know a little of what I have been up to in the past year (2006). All in all it’s been a pretty eventful and memorable year for me, so I thought I would share it with my friends and IIPSGP members. This year (2007) there is no MUSES Journal per se; instead, members will receive a free copy of my SELECTED PHILOSOPHICAL AND HISTORICAL ESSAYS 1985-2005 on CD rom. This is a 795 page book, which has been published in hard back form by www.lulu.com/iipsgp –The essays are divided into 9 sections, one dedicated to each to the 9 Muses, as is the normal Muses Love Journal from IIPSGP. I hope you enjoy them ! Next year a Journal ! In the Spring and Summer terms I was teaching still at Sherwood Hall School in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, and enjoying the regular rhythm of commuting to work, living in Nottinghamshire in the week and coming home for weekends, staying in an interesting part of Nottingham called Sherwood.
    [Show full text]
  • Conrad Spoke About Front Kind of Gift That People God’S Gifts for the Church
    www.TheMennonite.org December 20, 2005 12 What child is this? 19 Four CPT members still missing in Iraq Page 8 20 MC USA facing major budget shortfalls 32 The angels’song GRACE AND TRUTH Using our gifts God has given gifts to each of you from his great vari- such wonderful gifts, my gifts seemed paltry, not ety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s good enough to offer. generosity can flow through you.—1 Peter 4:10 (NLT) I was wrong. God doesn’t give paltry gifts. Neither does God give gifts simply for the benefit onrad, my husband, carried the like-new mail- of the one gifted. No. God intends these gifts to be box into the church sanctuary. It had been a used in such a way that God’s generosity can flow C gift from a friend of mine some 15 years earli- through us into the world. It is easier for me to use er. My friend, a gifted artist, had nestled our name the gifts God has given me when I remember God’s into the display of lovely red flowers and green purposes. I am not being boastful or proud when I leaves painted across the black backdrop. Not want- use the gifts as God intends, for I am using them ing the weather to damage the artwork, we had not for my glory but for God’s. When I forget this never used the mailbox in its official capacity. truth and fall into my old patterns of hiding the However, we had carefully moved it with us from gifts God has given, I am guilty of withholding the Ohio to Virginia and then to Pennsylvania.
    [Show full text]
  • IRAQ RESCUE: TWO CANADIANS ARE FREED Introduction for Nearly Four Months, Each Day Began Occupying Force
    IRAQ RESCUE: TWO CANADIANS ARE FREED Introduction For nearly four months, each day began occupying force. Suddenly, an Iraqi Focus the same way: the peaceful refuge of group calling itself the Swords of After 118 days in sleep replaced by the conscious reality Righteousness Brigade kidnapped the captivity, two of captivity. Chained together to pre- four men as a means to advance their Canadians and one vent escape, the prisoners awoke to political agenda and/or to extort a Briton were res- cued in a British-led wonder if this would be the day that the ransom from the Western powers. Their operation involving monotony of their imprisonment would motive was never clarified even after Canadian and U.S. be broken. Would their captors release the crisis came to a close. forces in Iraq. This them, kill them, or be overrun by coali- This story captured the attention of News in Review tion troops? Did anyone know they had people around the world. Four men who module looks at been taken hostage? Did anyone care? had dedicated their lives to non-vio- the hostage crisis One-hundred and eighteen days in lence were suddenly forced to endure that caught the captivity gave them plenty of time to the violence of captivity. Chained world’s attention in the fall of 2005 and ask questions. together in a small room in a non- came to a peaceful But this day was very different. A descript building somewhere near end in the spring of sudden surge of thunderous commotion Baghdad, they had become pawns in 2006.
    [Show full text]
  • Read PDF \ Captivity: 118 Days in Iraq and the Struggle
    TAACHPVBQ3IE # Kindle > Captivity: 118 Days in Iraq and the Struggle for a World Without... Captivity: 118 Days in Iraq and th e Struggle for a W orld W ith out W ar Filesize: 6.41 MB Reviews Certainly, this is actually the best job by any article writer. It can be loaded with knowledge and wisdom I realized this pdf from my i and dad advised this book to discover. (Ms. Verlie Goyette) DISCLAIMER | DMCA FC8YZFGZLCAU PDF Captivity: 118 Days in Iraq and the Struggle for a World Without... CAPTIVITY: 118 DAYS IN IRAQ AND THE STRUGGLE FOR A WORLD WITHOUT WAR To read Captivity: 118 Days in Iraq and the Struggle for a World Without War eBook, remember to access the link beneath and download the document or get access to additional information which might be relevant to CAPTIVITY: 118 DAYS IN IRAQ AND THE STRUGGLE FOR A WORLD WITHOUT WAR ebook. Random House USA Inc, India, 2012. Paperback. Book Condition: New. Reprint. 202 x 130 mm. Language: English . Brand New Book. The powerful account of the remarkable peace activist kidnapped while leading a peace delegation and held for ransom by Iraqi insurgents until his paradoxical release by a crack unit of special forces commandos. In November 2005, James Loney and three other men Canadian Harmeet Singh Sooden, British citizen Norman Kember and American Tom Fox were taken hostage at gunpoint. The men were with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), an organization that places teams trained in non-violent intervention into lethal conflict zones. The then unknown Swords of Righteousness Brigade released videos of the men, resulting in what is likely the most publicized kidnapping of the Iraq War.
    [Show full text]
  • This Is a Test Hello There…
    Canadian Boat to Gaza Factsheet Series No. 126, Created: June 2011, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East Who is organizing “Canadian Boat to Gaza” Who has endorsed “Canadian Boat to and why? Gaza”?4 The Canadian Boat to Gaza (CBG) is a project initiated by Canadian endorsers: Aside from the organizers, dozens of 26 veteran social-justice activists from across Canada. The other respected Canadians have endorsed the Canadian initiative is intended to assist international efforts to Boat to Gaza, including: McGill international human rights break the Israeli-led blockade of Gaza. To do this, the CBG professor Warren Allmand (former Solicitor General of will non-violently challenge Israel’s illegal blockade, and Canada); Maher Arar (Human Rights Activist); physicist seek to draw international attention to the suffering of and U of T professor Ursula Franklin; journalist and the people of Gaza.1 The group is sending a boat — Tahrir feminist Judy Rebick; renowned classical pianist Anton (“liberation” in Arabic) — to carry medical supplies and Kuerti; singers Raffi Cavoukian and Geoff Berner; U of T other urgently-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza. The law professor Michael Mandel; novelist Gil boat also intends to transport exports out of Gaza. Courtemanche; journalists Linda McQuaig and Murray Dobbin; filmmakers Martin Duckworth and Mary Ellen Tahrir is expected to sail in the last 10 days of June 2011, Davis; current or former federal MPs Alex Atamanenko and will join up to 14 other passenger and cargo ships in (NDP), Jim Manly (NDP), and Raymond Gravel (BQ); MLA Freedom Flotilla II for the final leg of the voyage.
    [Show full text]
  • Harmeet Singh Sooden, P.Eng. International Solidarity Movement XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX Auckland 1010 New Zealand Email: XXXXXXXXXXX
    Harmeet Singh Sooden, P.Eng. International Solidarity Movement XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX Auckland 1010 New Zealand Email: XXXXXXXXXXX 29 September 2008 Simon Murdoch Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Private Bag 18 901 Wellington New Zealand Email: [email protected] Dear Mr Murdoch, Both as a New Zealand citizen and an official representative of the International Solidarity Movement (hereinafter “ISM”) for the present purposes, I hereby lay a formal complaint before the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs against the Government of the State of Israel for committing human rights violations against me, a human rights defender1, and by extension ISM, between 14 and 18 June 2008 in the course of denying me entry to the Occupied Palestinian Territory. This letter describes the specific nature of those violations, the various legal instruments that apply and my requests for action. I have submitted a similar complaint to the Canadian Government and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Various organisations are to receive a copy of this letter, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. 1 There is no specific definition of who is or can be a “human rights defender”. The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders refers to “individuals, groups and associations…contributing to…the effective elimination of all violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of peoples and individuals” (fourth preambular paragraph). – 2 – A. Overview At approximately 06:00hrs on 14 June 2008, I arrived at Ben-Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET404. I stated that the purposes of my visit to Israel were humanitarian work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a volunteer for ISM and tourism (for example, visiting Yad Vashem).
    [Show full text]
  • THE ABDELRAZIK CASE Canadians Defy Law in Bid to Bring Home One Of
    THE ABDELRAZIK CASE Canadians defy law in bid to bring home one of their own More than 100 supporters chip in for airfare for Canadian exiled in Sudan DATE: 2009.03.13 PAGE: A1 BYLINE: LES PERREAUX AND BILL CURRY SECTION: National News EDITION: Metro DATELINE: MONTREAL and OTTAWA WORDS: 632 WORD COUNT: 517 LES PERREAUX AND BILL CURRY MONTREAL and OTTAWA More than 100 Canadians have chipped in airfare and exposed themselves to criminal prosecution in an effort to force Ottawa to allow a Canadian citizen to fly home from Sudan, where he's been stranded since being labelled an al-Qaeda operative by the United Nations. The donors, including teachers, students and a couple of dozen university professors from across Canada, bought a $997 airline ticket for Abousfian Abdelrazik. Now, they say, it's up to the Harper government to live up to a promise to give him travel documents for his April 3 flight from Khartoum to Toronto via Abu Dhabi. Mr. Abdelrazik, 47, is lost in a legal no-man's land. Canadian and Sudanese authorities have cleared him of being a terrorist suspect after years of questioning, imprisonment and torture. But he remains on the UN terror list at the behest of the United States, according to his lawyer. The Canadian government gave Mr. Abdelrazik "temporary safe haven" at the Khartoum embassy nearly a year ago. Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Emma Welford would not say whether emergency travel documents will be issued, as promised, saying only that Canada is obliged to enforce a United Nations travel ban on Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • International Human Rights Day Statement by Former Cpt Captives Norman Kember, James Loney, and Harmeet Singh Sooden
    INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY STATEMENT BY FORMER CPT CAPTIVES NORMAN KEMBER, JAMES LONEY, AND HARMEET SINGH SOODEN December 8, 2006; London We three, members of a Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) delegation to Iraq, were kidnapped on November 26, 2005 and held for 118 days before being freed by British and American forces on March 23, 2006. Our friend and colleague, Tom Fox, an American citizen and full-time member of the CPT team working in Baghdad at the time, was kidnapped with us and murdered on March 9, 2006. We are immensely sad that he is not sitting with us here today. On behalf of our families and CPT, we thank you for attending this press conference today. It was on this day a year ago that our captors threatened to execute us unless their demands were met. This ultimatum, unknown to us at the time, was a source of extreme distress for our families, friends and colleagues. The deadline was extended by two days to December 10, which is International Human Rights Day. On this day, people all over the world will commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN General Assembly in 1948 by speaking out for all those whose human dignity is being violated by torture, arbitrary imprisonment, poverty, racism, oppression or war. We understand a number of men alleged to be our captors have been apprehended, charged with kidnapping, and are facing trial in the Central Criminal Court of Iraq. We have been asked by the police in our respective countries to testify in the trial.
    [Show full text]
  • Milnews.Ca Media Summary Report
    MEDSUMREP 2006-01.5 December 10, 2006 MILNEWS.CA MEDIA SUMMARY REPORT Christian Peacemaker Teams Hostage Rescue in Iraq on March 23, 2006 Tony Prudori, Editor MILNEWS - Military News for Canadians [email protected] All material contained in this report is taken or paraphrased from open sources. Direct quotes are not footnoted only to ease reading, but all material consulted is included in the Bibliography. MILNEWS.ca is not responsible for the accuracy of the base data or the reporters’ interpretation of events. All media material presented in accordance with the "fair dealing" provisions, Section 29, of the Copyright Act, http://www.cb-cda.gc.ca/info/act-e.html#rid-33409 This report may be updated as events warrant. Background The Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) web page says it is an organization offering, “an organized, nonviolent alternative to war ... (and) organizational support to persons committed to faith-based nonviolent alternatives in situations where lethal conflict is an immediate reality or is supported by public policy.” CPT members currently have observers in conflict areas around the world, including the Palestinian Territories, Colombia, Burundi and eastern Congo. CPT began sending observers to Iraq in October 2002, six months before the beginning of the U.S. led invasion in March of 2003. The focus focus of that CPT team, for the 18 months following the invasion, was documenting and highlighting human rights and detainee abuse issues. On November 26, 2005, CPT members James Loney, 41, Harmeet Sooden, 32 (both Canadians), Norman Kember of Britain, 74, and American Tom Fox, 54, were kidnapped from a Baghdad street while leaving a mosque.
    [Show full text]