taliban Church Faces Compensation Suit
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Shim Jin-pyo, father of Shim Sung-min, a male hostage who was killed in Afghanistan last month, said that he would file compensation suits against the government, the Saemmul Community Church, and the Korean Foundation for World Aid, which had arranged the volunteer trip.
The father said in an interview with OhMyNews, ``My son used to do volunteer work on weekends at the church but was not that big a believer; but the church took him to Afghanistan. Despite warnings, the church people did not follow safety rules there, not taking the roads the Afghan police recommended and moving at night instead of daytime.’’
He also criticized the government for not taking proper initial measures, and the church and the foundation for not reporting the overseas work to the families.
The families of Rev. Bae Hyung-kyu, the first victim, and Shim said they wished their beloved ones could have returned home safely too.
Rev. Bae’s brother said Bae would be happy in heaven. The family donated his body to a hospital for medical studies according to his last will and testament, and suspended a memorial service, saying they would hold one when the other hostages arrive home.
Shim’s family also sent congratulatory messages to the families of the remaining hostages, but said they feel sorry for the loss of the 29-year-old Shim.
Meanwhile, family members and friends of the 19 hostages held captive by Taliban militants hailed the news of the release of their loved ones, but at the same time, expressed sorrow for the two who were killed.
The news was welcomed by the family of Lee Ji-young, one of the hostages who passed up on a chance of early release for the sake of others.
After Kim Gyeong-ja and Kim Ji-na returned to Korea, it was learned that the kidnapers tried to free Lee, 36, who asked for others to take her place, saying her health was better than that of the others.
``I was touched on hearing she had passed on the chance to others, but at the same time felt sorry when considering my mother. But now I’m so glad that all 19 will be freed,’’ Lee’s brother Lee Jong-hwan said.
Lee has been involved in aid work in Afghanistan since 2006, and was kidnapped when guiding the 20 Saemmul church members.
Besides Lee Ji-young, the 18 hostages are: college student, Go Se-hun (27); mother of two, Kim Yun-young (35); guide, Park Hye-young (34) who has stayed in Afghanistan since January 2006; nurse, Seo Myung-hwa (29); Seo’s brother, Seo Kyung-seok (27); company worker, Song Byung-woo (33); Web designer, An Hye-jin (31); Saemmul church preacher, Yu Kyung-sik (55); English teacher, Yu Jung-hwa (39); designer, Lee Sun-young (37); preschool teacher, Lee Sung-eun (24); college student, Lee Young-kyung (22); nurse, Lee Jung-ran (33); nurse, Lee Ju-yun (27); guide, Im Hyun-ju (32) who has been in Afghanistan since 2004; English teacher, Je Chang-hee (38); piano instructor, Cha Hye-jin (31); and English teacher, Han Ji-young (34).