Pirate-Held British Couple Reunited, But Not Released
NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb. 1, 2010 -- After more than 90 days of being separated, the retired British couple who are being held in Somalia by pirates have been reunited temporarily, according to Sky News.
But Paul and Rachel Chandler remain in captivity and have said they are being treated "cruelly." They are begging for help urgently, according to an AFP reporter who interviewed the couple.
"Please help us, we have nobody to help us," 60 year-old Paul Chandler said in a video taken by the reporter. " We have been in captivity for 98 days and we are not in good condition."
But that help, at least in terms of ransom money, will not come from the British government who say that they are monitoring the situation closely but will not negotiate or pay a ransom for the Chandler's freedom.
Pirates allegedly involved with the incident have demanded a ransom payment of $7 million for the couple's release. British authorities say won't negotiate with pirates. Last week British Foreign Secretary David Miliband defended his government's handling of the case, after Paul Chandler gave a phone interview to ITV news saying that the couple will be killed soon if ransom demands are not met.
"Our position is absolutely clear. The British government never makes substantive concessions to hostage-takers, including in respect of ransom payments, and we always advise people of that," Miliband told reporters.
The Chandlers were kidnapped last October while sailing towards Tanzania after leaving the Seychelles islands in East Africa. The area is known for piracy, and the Chandlers reportedly told relatives that they had delayed leaving the Seychelles for a few days because of pirate activity.
A local Somali surgeon was allowed to visit the couple, who are being held in separate locations. Rachel Chandler, 56, said that they were being treated poorly. The doctor, Abdi Mohamed Helmi, "Hangul" told AFP that her health was failing.
"She is sick, she is very anxious," he said. "She suffers from insomnia."
