OCTOBER 2004
www.celtic-connection.com
Page 9
Tearful Pleas for Release of Kenneth Bigley
DUBLIN - The Taoiseach Bertie Ahem, Irish Labour Party TD Michael D. Higgins, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, and SDLP MP and Nobel Peace Prize laureate John Hume, have all broadcast appeals on the Arab television station Al-Jazeera for the release of British civil engineer Kenneth Bigley (62).
On September 16, Bigley, a civil engineer from Liverpool, was captured at gunpoint in Baghdad along with two American colleagues, Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley. All three appeared on video with their captors two days later. On September 20, Eugene Armstrong was murdered, followed by Jack Hensley on September 21.
The Bigley family has made a number of emotional appeals for the safe release of Ken. His elderly mother collapsed after making a tearful plea for her son's life.
Lit (Elizabeth) Bigley (86), originally from Ticknock in County Dublin, told his kidnappers that he was "only a working man who wants to support his family" and begged his captors to "please show mercy to Ken and send him home to me alive."
An hour before her broadcast, British Prime Minister Tony Blair telephoned the family at its Liverpool home for the second time, but there was no hint of any concession to the terrorists.
Bigley's brother Paul has criticized Tony Blair for "only going though the diplomatic instruction book, " in his efforts to free his brother. Attacking what he branded an "immoral war," he urged Blair to withdraw British troops.
Bigley is being held by the hardline Tawhid and Jihad group, led by Abu Musab al-Zarquawi, one of the world's most wanted men. They have demanded the release of women prisoners.
Paul Bigley has said the Irish people's response to his family's plight was "stunning. " He was speaking on September 29, as his brother was shown in a new video
KENNETH Bigley, a civil engineer from Liverpool, was captured at gunpoint in Baghdad.
'7feel he will" survive, if they had wanted to kill him, they would have done so. I don't think they want to murder him but they want something out ofitpolitically - apart from humiliating Tony Blair and the government. " - Daud Abdullah
screened on the Arab television station Al-Jazeera.
The engineer was seen shackled in a cage wearing an orange jumpsuit and pleading for help from Prime Minister Tony Blair. In the footage, he calls on Blair to meet the demands of his kidnappers to free female prisoners in Iraq and says his captors do not want to kill him.
Paul Bigley, said it was "absolutely appalling " to see his brother in such a state but he was pleased he was still alive. He said that he believed his brother's captors did not want to kill him.
He added that the warm response from the people of Ireland to his appeals for help has been "absolutely unbelievable. "He said, "I could not sit down and formulate my response. I was just stunned. I contacted Dublin and, within minutes, things were buzzing. "
Bigley said Irish Labour Party TD Michael D. Higgins and former SDLP leader John Hume had been particularly helpful. Paul Bigley said that after Higgins's appearance, Arabic e-mail messages began pouring in.
"It is quite clear that the militants holding my brother know how we feel about British government policy in the Middle East and the flawed judgment with regard to Iraq," he said.
"At the end of the day he may be killed, but at least now we have a glimmer of hope; messages are getting through and perhaps the Irish contact will make a difference.
"Michael D. Higgins was very comforting and offered a damn sight more sympathy and support than British politicians. This man clearly has very good contacts in Iraq.
"He was able to get his statement across to those close to the militant al-Zarqawi 's people; I know from my own private contacts in Iraq that they have read his statement; they are listening and it may help. "
Meanwhile, a Muslim negotiator involved in trying to free Bigley has expressed guarded optimism he will be freed.
Daud Abdullah, who visited Baghdad, said he believes the 62-year-old Briton is still alive and will be released.
Abdullah, who led the delegation from the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) to Baghdad, said "I feel he will" survive, if they had wanted to kill him, they would have done so. I don't think they want to murder him but they want something out of it politically - apart from humiliating Tony Blair and the government. "
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