February 2001 • Rockbites Alternative Daily
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February 2001 • Rockbites Alternative Daily
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Médicins Sans Frontières kidnap victim released 12 February 2001
39 year old Kenneth Gluck, head of mission for the North Caucasus operations of the international medical aid agency Doctors Without Borders/Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF), was held captive for nearly a month in Chechnya after his abduction from an unarmed humanitarian convoy in early January. His kidnapping has led to the suspension of operations for MSF in the region. On Thursday, a very relieved Gluck held a press conference in Amsterdam telling his story. Held for a time in a dark basement, Gluck said “Gratefully, I was never gagged, beaten or tortured in any way during my period in captivity. I was always given three meals a day and always had enough to eat.” MSF was at no point informed of Gluck’s abduction, his condition, or whereabouts, nor were any demands ever made. The still unidentified kidnappers drove Gluck blindfolded on 3 February to a location in the village of Starye Atagi, where they released him. Human rights activist organization Amnesty International has been collecting evidence of daily abuses in Chechnya, including information on large numbers of individuals held arbitrarily. They now have widespread evidence of torture, summary executions, and indiscriminate killings. First hand witnesses have reported systematic beatings with clubs and hammers, rape, electric shocks, exposure to tear gas, and even the filing off of teeth. Last month Amnesty called for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to take action against the abuses. MSF executive director Austen Davis said “It was a complete and happy surprise to learn of Kenny’s release. This incident is a personal tragedy for Kenny, his family and many others. It is also a tragedy for the doctors and nurses who continue to carry out surgical operations in Chechnya and provide assistance and care to the sick and wounded, despite the harsh conditions, without supplies and pay. They deserve our respect and support, but as a consequence of this incident all humanitarian assistance was put on hold.” | DWB/MSF press release | | Doctors Without Borders | | PACE | | Amnesty International | | top of page | |
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