UNAMA - Statements by SRSG

August 31, 2007

Today’s release of South Korean hostages from Taliban captivity is clearly very welcome news. I hope that the Koreans will quickly be reunited with their families and that everything possible will be done to help them recover from this terrifying ordeal. My thoughts are with all of them, and in particular with the family and friends of the hostages who were murdered.

To those Taliban who were responsible for this crime I say shame on you. What gain can there be from bringing harm upon innocent civilians? What honor is there in kidnapping and mistreating women, and so many of them?

This campaign of abductions and murders must stop. The Taliban, as one of the parties to the current conflict, must recognize their responsibility to protect civilians from harm. I call too for the immediate release of those people still being held, which include Afghans and a citizen of Germany.

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		Statement of Tom Koenigs, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan on the release of the Korean hostages
		[Print Version] August 31, 2007 Today’s release of South Korean hostages from Taliban captivity is clearly very welcome news. I hope that the Koreans will quickly be reunited with their families and that everything possible will be done to help them recover from this terrifying ordeal. My thoughts are with all of them, and in particular with the family and friends of the hostages who were murdered. To those Taliban who were responsible for this crime I say shame on you. What gain can there be from bringing harm upon innocent civilians? What honor is there in kidnapping and mistreating women, and so many of them? This campaign of abductions and murders must stop. The Taliban, as one of the parties to the current conflict, must recognize their responsibility to protect civilians from harm. I call too for the immediate release of those people still being held, which include Afghans and a citizen of Germany. _______________


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