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By PETER
WORTHINGTON
Ottawa, August 29, 2009 – “Quiet diplomacy" is a Canadian fixation, but
does it work?
The government and diplomats like it because it keeps the media off
their backs, but when Canadians are in danger in foreign lands, does it
help or hurt?
The answer is sometimes yes and sometimes no.
Yes, in the case of diplomat Robert Fowler kidnapped to Mali and
eventually freed. And CBC reporter Mellissa Fung, kidnapped in
Afghanistan and freed 28 days later.
No, in the case of William Sampson, framed for murder by Saudi Arabia
and sentenced to public beheading, who spent 2 1/2 years in jail thanks
to Canada's silence.
How about the present case of freelance reporter Amanda Lindhout, 28,
kidnapped in Somalia a year ago, whose parents in Alberta have dutifully
played the Ottawa game and said nothing, trusting Canadian "quiet
diplomacy" to rescue Amanda. Australian photographer, Nigel Brennan, 32,
was also kidnapped with her.
The $2.5 million ransom demand isn't much -- it's the same amount that
Suaad Mohamud wants from our government for thinking her passport photo
was a fraud.
One has nothing but sympathy for Amanda and her family, but one wonders
if they were wise to be so silent. Such silence may please her captors,
but it also lets the government off the hook. Publicity -- especially
adverse publicity -- seems the only thing that persuades governments to
move quickly.
Still, there's little Canada can do in Somalia. The country is a notch
removed from anarchy, with no effective government. Even the pirates
have more power and influence than what passes for Somalia's government.
Look at how we deal with Somali pirates we capture. We free them. Why do
we do that? Because we don't know what else to do. Gone are the days
when captured pirates were hanged from the yard arm, or walked the
plank.
These pirates aren't of the Long John Silver type. Cmdr. Craig Baines,
captain of the frigate Winnipeg which captured Somali pirates says:
"They more like Los Angeles street gangs ... kids."
So what is Canada doing to free Amanda Lindhout?
"We will not comment," says a foreign ministry spokesman.
That's par for the course -- fear of compromising whatever negotiations
are underway and endangering the lives of the captives. They always say
that.
The Somali kidnappers just want money, and don't think big.
Unlike Israel, Canada is not a country that would send a team to rescue
citizens held hostage. We even believe the captors when they say
hostages are well treated -- the last Liberal government believed the
Saudi ambassador when he said Sampson was guilty and being well treated.
NO CRIME
It's acceptable not to protest when Canadians are guilty of crimes --
like those sentenced to death for murder in the U.S., or drug dealers in
Asia or Latin America. But Amanda committed no crime -- kidnapped en
route to write about a refugee camp.
She'd have a better chance if she had a support system, like a media
employer who'd make waves and demand action. (On the other hand, if
she'd had an employer, likely the ransom would be higher.)
If Ottawa can't, or won't, help this reporter, why not agree to pay the
ransom -- and persuade a friendly country to be the go-between and
perhaps ambush and kill the perpetrators?
That's what Tom Clancy would do, and it usually succeeds in his novels.
Source: Toronto Sun, August 28, 2009
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