In a video released by the Taliban in Afghanistan on Monday, two French journalists who were kidnapped in December say they will be killed unless the Taliban’s demands are met.
The two journalists, Stephane Taponnier and Herve Ghesquiere, both employed by France 3 television, were kidnapped in December in Afghanistan’s northeastern Kapisa province, along with their driver and Afghan translator.
One of the kidnappers’ demands was that the video be broadcast on France 3 television.
France 3 for the first time on Monday revealed the journalists’ names and images. The channel stated that it had so far protected the duo’s anonymity in the interest of their security, but that it had taken the decision to make the information public at the request of their family members.
The video, which can be seen here, shows one of the journalists reading from a notebook, in English: “This message is the last message for the French government and my TV: France 3. After three months to be prisoner, the Taliban want absolutely that their (will) has to be accepted by French officials.”
He adds: “The French president, Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, must understand that we are now in danger of death. I repeat, the French president must negotiate very quickly, otherwise we will be executed soon.”
The French Foreign Ministry has announced that it is working to secure the journalists’ release. “Given that this could have a direct impact on the security of our two compatriots and the course of our action to secure their release, we prefer to exert the utmost discretion on this point,” spokesman Bernard Valero was quoted by AFP as saying.
The video was reportedly released on a Taliban website, alemarah.info, and was accompanied by a statement which announced that the Taliban had sent the French government a list of detainees who were to be released in exchange for the journalists’ safety.
The area of Afghanistan where the journalists were kidnapped is primarily French-patrolled.
In recent times, journalists have repeatedly been kidnapped or taken hostage by nations or non-state actors in hopes of ransom or political mileage. Earlier this month, two journalists of British origin were reportedly kidnapped when they were returning from an interview with Taliban representatives in Pakistan’s restive North West Frontier Province. Last year Iran arrested and tried an American journalist, Roxana Saberi, sentencing her to eight years on espionage charges. She was later released after her sentence was suspended. Also in 2009, North Korea detained two American journalists after it claimed that they had illegally crossed the border from China to North Korea. They were released after a visit to North Korea by former U.S President Bill Clinton.
“It is unacceptable that journalists be used as pawns or as tools for political maneuvering,” said IPI Press Freedom Manager Anthony Mills. “Journalists are neutral observers and must be treated as such. They should be allowed to do their job freely and without fear of being kidnapped for political ends. The Taliban must release these journalists unharmed immediately.”
