Day: April 12, 2009

1st of three parts

The writer, a humanitarian worker, was kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan in September of 2008. She recounts part of her ordeal in the hope that the public and particularly government officials who are tasked to address the problem of securing the safe release of other kidnap victims begin to appreciate the harrowing experiences that victims go through. It is easy to direct strategies from the outside when one is not personally affected. But if the welfare of the victims is primary in the declared intentions of said officials, it becomes necessary to see the situation from the perspective of the victims. This, it is hoped, will enable authorities to make their decisions in a more informed and humane manner. This first part recounts the fears and uncertainties that the writer experienced during her 61 days of captivity. This will be followed with another article which will try to explain how she coped with the situation, and finally a third article with her reflections on the entire experience.
Ms Mendoza gave MindaNews permission to run the series.