Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kimbop]

I've never started a thread before, but this headline disgusted me. I would rather die than give creedence to pirates or terrorists, and believe they shouldn't be negotiated with.

"Do your worst", wrote Dumas.

I'm reminded of the ransom paid to the Taleban last year. But it's not only Koreans: the Danes, iranians, and Germans have also paid ransoms. What will happen to the Ukrainian ship? More importantly, how do we address the root problem; ie starving Somalians? Is the west (and india) to park a permanent naval mission off the coast of Somalia?


http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/17/asia/AS-Asia-Somalia-Piracy.php

SEOUL (AFP) � Somali pirates released 22 sailors they kidnapped last month after the South Korean ship owner paid a ransom, an official said Friday.

The eight South Koreans and 14 Myanmarese were freed Thursday. They had been held since their 15,000-tonne cargo ship was seized off the coast of the east African nation on September 10.

Koo Ja-Woo, an executive director of J and J Trust, which owns the ship, said his company paid an unspecified sum to the pirates through a foreign middleman with experience in dealing with the seizure of ships.

"As a result, we could secure the early release of the sailors. But I cannot disclose the amount," he told Yonhap news agency.

J and J officials and South Korea's foreign ministry were not immediately available for comment.

The ministry said earlier the South Koreans were expected to return home on October 26.

Somali waters are the world's most dangerous for piracy. The International Maritime Bureau reported more than 24 attacks in the area between April and June alone.

Maritime experts say many attacks go unreported along Somalia's 3,700 kilometres (2,300 miles) of largely unpatrolled coast. Pirates operate high-powered speedboats and carry heavy machine guns and rocket launchers.

A South Korean tuna ship with 25 crew was hijacked by Somali pirates in April 2006. The ship and its crew were released after four months when a ransom was paid.

Last year Somali pirates seized two South Korean vessels and 24 crew including four South Koreans.

The crew were released in November after six months in captivity. Local media reports said the pirates had demanded a ransom of five million dollars before reducing the sum to an undisclosed figure.

[Nowhere Man]

[cangel]

Koreans are despicable in dealing with terrorists and pirates. Shout it from the hilltops, "Koreans are easy marks!" Absolutely no testicular fortitude. Appalling.

Don�t forget to add the Italians to the list of countries that do negotiate with terrorists as they have on several occasions.

[cdninkorea]

Kidnapping citizens, when committed by a government, is considered an act of war. Why is it different for criminals?

[Join Me]

[I_Am_The_Kiwi]

Rather DIE!

Are you insane! If you were the sailor on that ship and your government/company said nar fuk it. Kill em, we wanna keep our money. Youd be happy with that?
Wow.


Whats worth more to these companies/governments. A ship worth millions and a cargo probably worth more. Or a few million in ransom? Not to mention that little loss of life thing.....


They are not doing this only to the koreans either...and koreans arent the only ones paying them off....

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/somali-pirates-hijack-greek-tanker/2008/10/12/1223729698097.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7427455.stm

http://boingboing.net/2008/09/29/mysterious-cargo-on.html

[Big_Bird]

Yeah. I wonder how the OP and his friends would feel if it was someone they loved who had been kidnapped by pirates. Hopefully they would stick to their principles and condemn their loved ones to die rather than give in to criminals and terrorists.

[itaewonguy]

So what if they paid! It�s not your money! Billions of dollars are wasted every year on bribes and special interests! Why not spend 5 million dollars and save a life!
If you don�t pay them! They will kill the hostages! And then go out and find the next ship to seize and again repeat the process! No pay? Ok! no problem bullet to the head NEXT! Not paying the terrorists is not the way to solve this problem! Because they will just keep trying and in the process kill every hostage they get! Best way is to KILL THEM!!
There needs to be an international police patrol which guards the ships as they sail through those waters... get some frigates and navy boys doing convoys of all ships going through those parts! Once the pirates know all ships are guarded in the convoy and they will be blown up if they try to attack them, they will stop!
Plenty of countries will sign on to this.

[mises]

[cangel]

"What if it was your _____." Stop being so stupid. Yes, yes, if it were my child or loved one, I would want the government to do whatever it took to return them to me safely. What's being discussed here in the bigger picture.

[I_Am_The_Kiwi]

[cangel]

Darn, someone called my bluff. Oh boy, don't I look like a fool... You're right... There isn't a bigger picture.

[sharkey]

i would negotiate for sure ... just like nato will be forced to negotiate with the taliban and iraqis ... diplomacy trumps aggression

[I_Am_The_Kiwi]

[bucheon bum]