By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The second hostage killing by Taliban forces in Afghanistan diminished the hopes of family members even further, as the likelihood for resolve seems nowhere in sight.
Shim Sung-min, 29, a male captive from Saemmul Community Church's volunteer group, was shot dead by insurgents, the Korean government confirmed Tuesday. Reports of the assassination rang out Monday from militant officials, who claimed they had shot another member of the group of 22.
It came as such a shock because negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan and Korean governments seemed to be going well. Only three hours earlier, the militia had extended the deadline by two days.
The killing took place roughly nine hours after the body of the first victim, Rev. Bae Hyung-kyu, arrived in Seoul.
Shim's mother, Kim Mi-ok, 61, who was gathering with family members and other hostages' families at the church office in Bundang of Gyeonggi Province, cried and shouted, ``Why do they kill him! Please, we cannot live without him!'' She collapsed and fainted later getting an injection of Ringer's solution.
His father Shim Jin-pyo, a member of South Gyeongsang Provincial Council, said he believed his son never showed a defiant or provoking attitude toward the captors. ``Even though the Taliban had their own pure purpose, how come they, human beings, can do such cruel things!'' he said.
Shim's brother-in-law said the family and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade decided to bring his body to Korea as soon as possible. The family decided to donate Shim's body to the Seoul National University Hospital for medical study, following the wishes of the first victim, the Rev. Bae Hyung-kyu.
``We'll hold a memorial service immediately after the remains arrive home. We're discussing the service procedure with the ministry and the church,'' he said.
Families of other abductees, especially those of male captives, fear more killings.
Citizens mourned over the death. Internet portal sites were flooded with condolence messages of praying for the deceased and hoping for an end to the tragedy.
``I did not expected from the beginning that the kidnapping situation would end soon, but the one-by-one death gave me renewed shock and anger. I feel sad for the death. May he rest in peace,'' an Internet user with the ID ``moonriver_we'' said on Naver.
Another netizen with the ID ``rewing'' said, ``At first, I criticized the hostages for going to the dangerous country. But now, I'm just feeling sorry for them who tremble in fear.''
``I hoped they would come back and then be criticized for causing the troubles, but the number of victims is growing. Although they brought danger on themselves, it is so tragic,'' a netizen using the ID ``bokdeongi'' said on Daum.