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BUNDANG, South Korea: Friends and family of two South Korean women
freed by Afghanistan’s Taliban spoke Tuesday of their relief, but
vowed not to rest until 19 other Koreans are also released.
Amid uncertainty over their fate and with two
other hostages already dead, there was a subdued mood at the
Saem-Mul Presbyterian Church on the outskirts of Seoul.
Most relatives declined to speak to reporters as
the crisis drags on.
“This is the first breakthrough in the
negotiations to win their freedom, and we welcome it,” said Kwon
Hyuk-Soo, an official at the church, which sent the original group
of 23 on its mission.
“However we cannot be overly joyful until all
the remaining 19 return home,” Kwon told reporters at the church
at Bundang, where families have gathered to support each other in
their weeks-long ordeal.
President Roh Moo-Hyun told a cabinet meeting he
hoped the release “will be a good signal for the release of all
the hostages” who are still suffering.
“The government has to make greater efforts to
have them released. We shouldn’t relax until the last moment,”
Roh said.
The two women, Kim Gin-A, 32, and Kim Kyung-Ja,
37, were freed Monday after nearly one month in captivity.
“I feel relieved but at the same time I have a
heavy heart because of the other hostages who are still in
captivity,” said Kim Ji-Ung, brother of Gin-A. “We will stick
together until all of them are freed.”
For their mother Seon Yeon-Ja, 60, joy was
tempered with sadness. “Two have come back home dead and others
are still there. I feel really sad for the other hostages,” she
said.
--AFP
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