Korean Hostage Drama

Hostages’ families face agonising wait
Korean hostages freed by Taleban return home
Shock and anguish in South Korea

Taleban had kidnapped foreigners in Afghanistan to demand troop-pullouts yet again. Such issues had been in the spotlight ever since the US intervention in the affairs of the Middle East states. However, the Korean government is now doing everything possible to negotiate its way out of the biggest hostage crisis in Afghanistan. Unfortunately for the South Koreans, most governments with troops on the ground are now against such hostage deals.

Now that the dilemma has been resolved successfully, I could not help but to question: Was it really wise for 23 Christian evangelists, including 18 women, to be in Afghanistan, a devoutly Muslim country in turmoil? Was it really that clever to drive through the Kabul-Kandahar highway, one of the most dangerous roads in the country, deep into Taleban-controlled areas?

Although it is claimed that the volunteers are there for purely humanitarian work to help the people in Afghanistan, the Muslim-extremists who detested Christianity apparently did not think so. The volunteers were there to help their people, so why couldn’t the extremists tolerate them? They were not soldiers, but people who could offer much needed help and medical aid for the Afghans. The Taleban have completely no morality.

In my opinion, it was indeed foolish of the Church Group to venture deep into a territory that is controlled by Muslim-Extremists that had deep hatred for other religions, especially during times where it was extremely unfavourable for foreigners. It was a huge risk that they had taken and ultimately they had paid a hefty price for their good intention.

It has also come to my knowledge that this is just part of a growing trend for Christian missions to venture out overseas, often to war-torn and politically-unstable countries in the Middle-East. The South Koreans had regarded such missions with pride and is viewed as a prestige by Churches. It is claimed that the volunteers do not put on a religious label, but such good intentions can be easily misunderstood by the Muslim Extremists.

“Evangelising the world is a Biblical mandate. We can review our methods to make it safer for our missionaries but we cannot stop sharing the Gospel.”

On the other hand, the Taleban is a dangerous Muslim extremists group that had shown resistance to US forces. However, it is not too difficult to understand their situation. Their lands have been taken control of and country invaded by the US, and due to their much inferior weapons, such hostage threats are the only means of resistance. Taleban leaders have also expressed that such method was “a very successful policy” and had urged fighters to kidnap whatever foreigners they can find.

As such, this is the background with which the world must deal in. Hostages are a weak spot that have been exploited by Muslim extremists and they will continue to do so. A nation’s first priority must be to recover its citizens, but an equally important duty is to prevent future hostage attempts. And this must mean giving in as little as possible to the Taleban. A huge sacrifice had to be made for the sake of a less troubled future.

In conclusion, although people have a right to expect the protection of their government, they should also have a moral duty not to take such pointless, huge risks. And if citizens do not recognise this obligation, then governments should enforce it.

-Finance and Law-

Safety on Lorries

13 workers flung out of crash lorry; one dead
Extra safety features on vehicles suggested

The tragedy in which 13 workers were flung out of a crash lorry, killing one of them, had once again brought safety of workers on lorries into the spotlight. Since 2001, 25 foreign workers have been hurt or killed in similar incidents. Unless action is taken to safeguard these lives, history will repeat itself.

Personally, I have seen lorries carrying construction workers with almost no shelter and protection at all. Below are photos I have taken of such ill conditions, workers having squeeze into a tiny space on a pick-up and even in a construction vehicle.

These are just incidents waiting to happen, and something inside me just says “we are sorry”. Thinking of it, we actually owe it to those foreign workers who build our infrastructure and help in many businesses which require onsite physical labor, to ensure to their safety. Their immense contribution to the nation certainly did not deserve such ill treatment. Singapore would not be what she is today without them.

The foreign workers have to leave their homes to work here, leaving behind their beloved families, just to led a better life and feed their family abroad with whatever earnings they make. In my opinion, their lives are certainly not less precious than ours. They too, are sons, brothers, and fathers to someone, who wish them well and await their safe return.

“It is unnecessary for someone to leave his home with aspirations of making a living here, only to die on our roads.”

Let’s compare the local scenario with that of Dubai. Dubai is a city undergoing fast-paced development, with workers deployed on construction projects all around. Locals were stunned by the care displayed to workers: They are transported in well-maintained, air-conditioned buses. So why couldn’t we, a hardworking, responsible and compassionate society treat foreign workers as equals, at least on the roads? Why the double standards with regards to safety of foreign workers?

The Land Transport Authority in 2003 had laid down rules specifying the number of workers who can ride on the backs of pick-up trucks and lorries, as well as imposing speed limits and how high off the ground passengers can be seated. However, I believe that much more could be done. I believe that Lorries should be fitted with a canopy and higher railings, to give more protection to the workers in case of accidents and from the elements as well. Drivers and workers should also be educated on road safety. All these little changes could save lives.

It would be nice to provide workers with comfortable buses. Although it would mean extra costs for the employers, what are these costs compared to the safety of their workers and ultimately their reputation? Foreign workers are humans too, and should be treated like humans, thus simple areas like safety should not be neglected.

In the following years, more foreign workers are getting involved in numerous local developments. Thus, it is really important that the authorities take action to prevent such tragedies and remove this glaring spot in upholding the nation’s reputation as a compassionate society.

-Finance and Law-