Chapter 518
Chapter 518
exodus 4. Syrian wheat (3)
Pastor Jeong-Hoon Bang did not hesitate to threaten to erase me from the book of life along with the evil saying that I would be thrown into hellfire. But I will pay. He didn’t end up talking.
So he made a lot of noise in front of the press, and when the reporters tried to ask a question, he left the place as if to run away. That appearance was broadcast on the air.
-ᄏᄏᄏ I’m going crazy. what’s a bastard?
-I thought it was a gag when I saw the yellow blood.
– Are you saying that the missionaries will embrace the Apgujeong apartment whether they die or not?
-Gives Jinhoo Kang to pay money without paying a penny~
-If anyone sees it, it’s entrusted.
– Good luck. If I had paid, the company commander would have been disappointed with Kang Jin-hoo.
-If the hostages die as they said after Kangjin, it is the fault of Pastor Bang Jeong-hoon.
-Because you were expelled, technically speaking, you are not a pastor, are you?
– I feel sorry for the church members who believed in such a person and went on a mission.
-But aren’t my taxes really going to be used to pay the ransom?
* * *
In countries where the economic system has collapsed, it is not uncommon to kidnap foreigners and demand ransom. For criminal organizations, this is a business and a major source of income.
Still, it is extremely rare for as many as 21 people to be abducted. It drew international attention as it was intertwined with religious issues, including the Syrian civil war and a friend (?) after the earthquake. Media outlets around the world poured out articles paying attention to the problems of Al-Syria, the New World Church, and the Korean missions.
When the South Korean government sent a negotiating team to Syria, many countries expressed concern. While the negotiating team was careful, Kang Jin-hoo made it clear that he would not pay the money.
Five days later, al-Syria took action.
The hostages were sitting on their knees in the dark room.
Compared to when the first video was released, the faces and bodies of the hostages were a lot more emaciated, and they looked terrified that they could not even wash them properly.
A skinny middle-aged man read the writing on the paper.
“I am Pastor Hanil Bae of Saesang Church. I came to Syria to preach the gospel of God. President Huh Chang-min! CEO Kang Jin-hoo! I want to live. I want to live and see my family again. Please help me return to Korea alive.”
But as soon as he finished speaking, the masked man pulled the scimitar from his waist.
The man who saw the knife burst out crying in surprise.
“Oh, no! Help me!”
The men and women behind them also burst into tears.
“I will do whatever I ask. Please save me!”
A cry broke out along with a shriek.
Fortunately, he didn’t wield a knife. Instead, he put it on Pastor Hanil Bae’s neck and spoke in English.
“I tell Jinhoo Kang. If you do not pay the ransom within three days, I will behead the hostages one by one.”
* * *
[(Breaking News) Al-Syria ultimatum! The period is only three days!][Diplomatic disaster of the Heo Chang-min government!][Possibility that Kang Jin-hoo’s remarks stimulated Muhammad Sheikh Al Khalid?][Who is responsible for the death of the hostage?][After the earthquake and negotiation before there is more damage…]The opposition party criticized the Blue House with a sharp tone, and the media blamed Kang Jin-hoo and the government for this. Protests in front of the OTK Company headquarters under the guise of a prayer meeting also intensified. This incident was also strongly criticized within the Protestant Church. Also, hatred and hostility toward Islam increased.
In the midst of this, former President Park Si-hyeong, who is in prison, said, ‘I want to be a hostage on behalf of the people. Send me to Syria,’ he said, showing his presence in an instant.
Public opinion was divided into those that ‘we should bring our people alive’ and those that ‘Never negotiate’.
– No matter how much you hate it, you are our people. The government must step in and save it!
– Death must be prevented.
– What they did wrong is right. Doesn’t that mean he was not guilty of death?
– I am also in favor of punishment. It is correct to bring them back to Korea after living and punish them.
– Negotiation is surrender to terrorists! Never do it!
– If Jinhoo Kang pays the money, isn’t it all going to be resolved?
– If you give al-Syria money, they will rearm you with that money? Are you saying that we should support terrorist groups with national taxes?
– Even in the Pond Church incident, I had to pay money to bring it back, so this happened. If you had taken a hard line against the terrorist group at that time, would the same thing have happened?
– Syria. Even so, there are not one or two missionaries working in Africa or remote mountainous areas. If they pay the ransom this time, they too will be at the same risk.
– Did you go on a missionary mission, or did you go to martyrdom?
– But your Excellency is suddenly gone? Do you want to travel to Syria?
– Tired! I’m tired of your secrephais!
– There’s nothing more can be done than this! Let’s send your Excellency to Syria!
– If you’re al-Syria, would you accept your Majesty?
* * *
Al Syria publicly pressured me to pay the ransom. Of course, I have no reason to give, nor should I give. I’m just trying to ignore it, but another problem arises.
Eight months ago, in the high seas off Somalia, pirates hijacked a fishing boat and two Koreans kidnapped it.
While the negotiations were not going well and the hostages are still being held in Somalia, the pirates suddenly issued a statement asking me to give them money.
He even charged me for the ransom of 5 Indonesian sailors who were taken prisoner with me! The cost is $1 million per person, for a total of $7 million. Still, if you have a conscience, I called it cheaper than al-Syria. Taek-gyu looked at the e-mail sent to the company and said.
“uh! I’m here again! Boko Haram in Nigeria and Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao will also release the hostages for money.”
I said absurdly.
“Who is this dog?”
Then, criminal gangs around the world started sending me bills.
Taek-gyu looked at me and asked.
“Are you going to stay like this?”
“then?”
“I need to tell the al-Syrian kids what the hell it is.”
For reference, this is Taek-gyu’s life aphorism.
“how?”
“You have to think about it.”
“… …“
Anyway, I can’t sit still as long as I get the bill.
I contacted someone I know.
“If you’re not busy, can I see you for a moment?”
I greeted guests in the conference room.
Currently, the government is focusing on resolving the kidnapping of missionaries, leaving behind all national issues. As the diplomatic power of the Korean government is almost on the test bed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will also be very busy.
Nevertheless, as soon as Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Seong-cheol answered my call, he ran to the OTK Company headquarters to avoid people’s eyes.
He said with a very tired look.
“Perhaps to pressure the government, CEO Kang Jin-hoo continues to fall from the other side. To start the negotiation, first, CEO Kang Jin-hoo asks you to pay 10 million dollars. If you do not fulfill the conditions, they will behead one person in the next three days. We are doing our best right now, but Syria and other neighboring countries are mostly concerned about the negotiations.”
If the South Korean government pays large sums to rescue the hostages, al-Syria will use the money to buy weapons and increase its membership.
It is, in effect, a support for terrorism. This will lead to more terrorism and kidnappings, and it could endanger not only Koreans but also other foreigners.
To the extent that it is difficult to push through negotiations in a situation where neighboring countries oppose it, the Korean government has been unable to do this or that even after dispatching a negotiating team.
“Besides, the situation in Syria is so bad that we can’t really negotiate.”
Foreign Minister Kim Seong-cheol explained the situation in Syria.
Syria, as we all know, is in the midst of a civil war.
Political and religious reasons were very intricately intertwined in this civil war.
The current president of Syria is Bashar al-Assad.
However, the Assad regime is a dictatorship and a brutal regime that is hard to believe that it exists in the 21st century. As a result, the rebels waged an armed struggle with the goal of overthrowing the Assad regime.
From this point of view, they seem like righteous martyrs protesting the dictatorship… These rebels are as deadly as the Assad regime, and they are Islamic fundamentalists who oppose secularism.
As you can see from the New World Church mission, Syria is the center of early Christianity, and the capital, Damascus, is a representative holy land. Also, 10% of the population is Christian. The Assad regime advocates secularism and secularism, and protects them.
What if the rebels win?
Then there will be a genocide of Christians and minorities, and Syria will be ruled by Islamic fundamentalists.
It was difficult for European countries to take sides as there were no dreams or hopes for whoever would win.
In addition, the Syrian civil war has involved remnants of IS and Kurds. The al-Nusra Front and al-Syria have engaged in looting and terrorism when bored, and the Kurds are fighting to establish a state for independence.
It is complicated enough up to this point, and depending on the situation, there is a possibility that Israel and Turkey will intervene.
This is why the civil war is unlikely to end easily.
It was something I was aware of, but hearing this is really serious.
Foreign Minister Kim Seong-cheol sighed openly.
“I am a Protestant Christian and go to church, but I do not agree with that kind of missionary work. It will be the same for all church members.”
I nodded.
“I would.”
Evangelism is basically a good thing. Missions sent by religious groups collaborate with local governments and civic groups in underdeveloped countries in Africa to do volunteer work, such as education and medical care, and spread the faith.
This is of great help to the local people, and it has a great effect on creating a positive image of Korea.
The problem is when you go to a place where you are not supposed to go and do missionary work.
The missionary also knew that Syria was a no-travel zone. Since there are no planes to get there, I first went to Istanbul, then from there to Ankara, then crossed the border to Syria.
“The purpose of departure was a trip. If it was stated from the beginning that the destination was Syria and that it was for missionary purposes
It would have been impossible to leave the country in the first place.”
You voluntarily go to places you can’t go even if others ask you to pay money. No, did this happen with your back from the New World Church?
Anyway, once they are caught, they are arguing about why they didn’t rescue them.(Read more @ wuxiax.com)
Taegyu said softly.
“I went on a mission with my life, so wouldn’t it be for them to just be martyred there?” Minister Kim Seong-cheol sighed.
“In my heart, I want to tell you to do the same. But from the government’s point of view, it can’t be, can it?
Seeing what he said secretly, it seems that we have become quite comfortable.
“What do you think of the president?”
“He said that we must save our people no matter what happens.”
Naturally, the government should put the lives of the people first. But paying the ransom is the worst option.
Another way is to launch a military operation to rescue the hostages.
Many countries do that too.
Taek-gyu asked.
“How about sending in special forces to rescue the hostages?”
“I’ve tried that, too, but there are some problems.”
At that moment, something came to mind. When the Pond Church mission group was kidnapped, they considered a rescue operation and actually sent a special forces mission to Afghanistan.
“Are there any special forces in Syria?”
At my question, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Seong-cheol put on a troubled expression.
“Because that’s not something I can talk about.”
This must be a secret that cannot be shared with civilians.
“They are threatening to kill people if I don’t pay. I want this time, so other guys are doing the same. I have no intention of standing still like this. If you’re here because you need my help anyway, shouldn’t I need to know the situation too?”
After thinking for a moment, he opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.
“The special forces have moved to the operation, but they have not received permission from the Syrian government. We are currently on standby in Lebanon with peacekeepers.”
No matter how many dozens of its citizens are held hostage, Syria is a completely different country. In order to deploy military units and conduct military operations, it is necessary to obtain permission from the local government. However, despite the South Korean government’s request, the Syrian government delayed its response.
There are two reasons for this. First, Syria has no diplomatic ties with Korea. It is not easy to bring into the territory an army of a country that is not an ally, let alone an ally.
Second, there is a risk of retaliation, such as terrorism or kidnapping, if the South Korean special forces enter and touch al-Syria.
“If we launch a rescue operation, what is the probability of success?”
As a divided country and a ceasefire country, the Korean special forces have a fighting power that is not inferior to any other country.
“In a hostage rescue operation, information is paramount. However, our military has no experience in conducting operations in the Middle East. Even if we were to defeat al-Syria, wouldn’t it be useless if all the hostages died in the meantime? In the worst case, hostages may die, and soldiers may die. That’s why, even during the Pond Church incident, I gave up on the rescue operation and paid the ransom to bring it back.”
“i See.”
But if you think about it, didn’t the same thing happen when you reacted like that?
