Years ago when I was a volunteer for Canadian University Service Overseas in Africa, you could hitchhike the Great North Road from Zambia to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania without much concern for safety. This was a time before the proliferation of guns throughout Africa, before “failed states” and the rise of feudal warlords. At that time there was still a post-colonial deferential attitude toward white people. No one had heard of a kidnapping for ransom. Since then kidnapping for ransom has become a booming industry in many parts of the developing world.
According to the U.S. State Department, in the five years between 2006 and 2010, 42,246 people were kidnapped “as a result of terrorism” worldwide. That is an average of 8,449 per year. The numbers are probably higher since they do not account for kidnappings that are not reported. People are kidnapped by terrorist organizations that demand money, publicity, the release of prisoners or withdrawal of troops. Victims can...
Beth Haddon, a former broadcast executive with CBC and TVOntario, is a contributing editor to the magazine. She was a Canadian University Service Overseas volunteer in Zambia.
Advertisement
Advertisement