Chucky Mama Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 The Chandlers kidnapped by Somali pirates over a year ago are finally free. I am so so pleased. Their plight had really upset me and I feared the worst. It was so hard to find out what was happening as the world seemed to have forgotten them. I hope that they are both strong enough to make some sort of physical & mental recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 Oh my that's brilliant news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 That is really good news for a change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 What great news . Can't believe it's been over a year . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 I was so happy when I read this earlier today, they'd been kidnapped for so long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 Heard it on the radio Good news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 Brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 Wonderful news. I have looked on the internet regularly since they were kidnapped hoping for something. I don't really know why; I felt so sorry for them. I hear a ransom has been paid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted November 14, 2010 Author Share Posted November 14, 2010 I hear a ransom has been paid. I heard that too. I know that their family and friends had been fundraising online to get money together for a ransom. I was tempted to make a donation. I doubt if we will find out what really happened in that respect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 That's great news, how wonderful that they will be back with their families for Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 Oh my that's fabulous news!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 Brilliant news. Really feel for them as they will have a lot of adjusting to do. How do you come to terms with an ordeal like that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 This is excellent news They sounded quite upbeat but I guess they won't want to share the full details (yet anyway). Their lives have certainly changed, doubt they'll ever be quite the same again after such an experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Jane Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 Great news. I'm really pleased for them and their family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 Great news!! The BBC this morning showed a Somali lady who had been actively seeking pledges of monetary help from Somalis in this country - this shamed the Somali government into becoming involved.....and then the ransom figure went up There was obviously a lot going on in the background but not much mention yet of any involvement from our government? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 The Chandlers kidnapped by Somali pirates over a year ago are finally free. I am so so pleased. Their plight had really upset me and I feared the worst. It was so hard to find out what was happening as the world seemed to have forgotten them. I hope that they are both strong enough to make some sort of physical & mental recovery. They weren't forgotten - apparently there was a "Super Injunction" sought by the family banning Media coverage as it was causing problems with the negotiations according to the BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11754758 Can't imagine what they are going through, nor their friends and family. Really hope they are given the support - and the space - to start to come to terms with it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 I'm very happy for them too, especially her because she looked so frail on some of those videos from captivity. he looks as if he coped with it better I think. BUT... they did sail into the wrong waters in the first place didnt they? I wonder if they did it by mistake - I'm sure they wouldnt have sailed there if they had known where they were going would they? anyway, I bet it will be the best Christmas the Chandler family has EVER had Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 They were actually just off of the Seychelles, they just said on Radio 2 that the Somali pirates are going futher and further away from Somalia to actually kidnap sailors. I think the Chandlers were just very unlucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 I'm delighted to see that they are free, and if they were my parents/relatives I would have moved heaven and earth to try and rescue them. BUT ... paying a ransom unfortunately puts every other boat sailing in those waters at even greater risk, and I can understand why the UK government would not get involved on that basis. I don't know if there was behind-the-scenes negotiation, there may well have been. What is really needed is not for the Somali community here in the UK to raise funds, generous though they have been, but for the Somali government to take a tougher line on this. These 'pirates' have just learned that even kidnapping a retired British couple with very little money can still produce a substantial reward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 but for the Somali government to take a tougher line on this. That would never happen if we are being realistic. The country is still riven by war. I couldn't help but equate the the way the Chandlers felt they had been inhumanely treated with they way most people in Somalia lived their lives during the Civil war. That's not to excuse the way they were treated but to explain that to their captors that's the way life was and the Chamberlains were simply a commodity. Life is cheap where so many die anyway all the time. I think "blue water sailors" have to realise that there are MANY places they should NOT sail to BUT there are equally MANY paces in the world that are OK. A Round the World retirement trip just has to have some caveats these days. I pray for their recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 I'm not sure Somalia has a proper government. I think there is some sort of transitional gov't with lots of factions which makes it pretty useless. As far as I'm aware it's run by warlords which explains why so many of it's population want to escape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 On the news tonight this question was posed........ After a ransom purported to be about a million pounds raised by "well wishers" it remains to be seen how much the Chandler story is worth $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
