On Sunday March 14th, 2010, disturbing news was released to the media regarding Rachel Chandler. Allegedly, she has been wounded by a small caliber bullet fired by a Somali pirate.
I have yet to find any evidence that supports the validity of this announcement, so I’m not going to re-post the original story. Also, as barbaric as this tragedy is, I haven’t found any evidence that the pirates harm their captives without provocation.
Regardless, the fact remains that both Rachel and Paul Chandler are still being held captive after almost 5 months and we would like to see them rejoin their families! Hopefully we will see some positive news soon!
Tags: rachel chandler, somali pirates
I cannot believe this story has gone from the news…is our Goverment doing anything? I would be desperate if this were my parents..their family must be heartbroken. How about taking the money from bank managers and paying for them to return home? Im sick of this as if it were a member of Parliment they would have they out of there so quickly !
It really bothers me as well that this doesn’t seem to be a big news story. It’s like we’re not wanted to care about this people! How can we just continue to let them struggle to survive? What a horrible ordeal.
I hope Paul and Rachel come home safe very soon!
I feel the same as above, it’s simply vanished from the news. The little boy who was kidnapped, that was simply.. everywhere. News, radio, papers. However when two English citizens are held captive.. nothing. What gets me is like Kate said if Gordon Brown was there, there would be guns blazing to free him. These are people who can afford a yacht.. so they must of had descent jobs and paying taxes! Surely something should be done.
My best wishes are with them.
Is there any update on this?
I agree that its horrible that this isn’t a much bigger news story, if it were a governements family member there would be an uproar, are all our lives not worth the same or are we still judged based on our worth??? 1600th century mentality?
I have written to both Gordon Brown and the Commander in Cheif – Fleet of the royal Navy (Admiral Sir Trevor Soar) asking them to explain the British Governments impotent response to this situation. I am sorry to say that I have recieved no more than a standard letter in response but if I may suggest others do the same, if they haven’t already, it may raise profile a little and I think everybody with an interest in seafaring has a right to an explanation. Lobbying Newspapers to advance the story is not difficult either and simply involves continuous correspondance toi the newsrooms which is easy enough to do via e-mail.
I have been following the little news since this tragedy began in late 2009. Although I don’t condone the British government’s stance, it does make some kind of twisted sense. Somalia claims that France, Britain, and other countries dump their sludge wastes as well as other de-watered industrial waste into the seas off the eastern coast there of Africa. The pirates have been “forced” to make a living of piracy because their fish are dying out quickly. While I don’t agree that you should fight fire with fire, can you imagine the position that Somalia is in right now, as a country? As a people? They can’t do anything because even the UN has ignored them. I wish all the best to Rachel and Paul. Unfortunately they’re being used as pawns for a larger scheme. I don’t think these people choose this life. I have bee told by a Canadian girl I know here who’s originally from Somalia that the government actually asks people to become pirates; outfitting them with the necessary ships and weapons. It’s a difficult situation when you have limited resources and a limited voice in the international community. Neither Britain nor Somalia are doing what’s right in this case, and I don’t anticipate the stalemate to break anytime soon, unfortunately.
I am more than willing to send a letter to anyone that would help. Being as I am from Canada would anyone be willing to send me some contact information so that I can do so?
Also, I know this sounds a little odd but these Facebook pages seem to get peoples attention. Is there currently a facebook page or should we start one and get people talking?
Sam
Sam and to all others interested in helping the Chandlers. I am a member of the facebook group “Help Paul and Rachel Chandler” and also “The Paul and Rachel Chandler Petition”, however, I am not an organizer.
You Can Help the Chandlers by:
1. Please join their facebook groups. “Help Paul and Rachel Chandler” and “The Paul and Rachel Chandler Petition.”
2. Sign a Petition asking for the govenment to help at http://www.Change.org (search for Paul and Rachel Chandler).
3. E-mailing the Chandler’s member of parliament GREG CLARK at http://WWW.PARLIAMENT.UK use postal code TN2 5LD. He also has a website at http://WWW.GREGCLARK.org. Explain that Paul and Rachel Chandler are in his disctrict and ask that he personally help the Chandlers.
im only in 9th grade but in class we learned that rachel chandler was not shot at all.. a young somalian girl standing next to her was shot (young as in early 20’s i think my teacher said….
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I’ve just signed a petition & emailed no 10 – it’s appalling that this couple is still in captivity – last I saw them on tv their health was deteriorating & Rachel looked in a really anxious state.
Terrible that our government has not rescued them yet – by whatever means.
I was just thinking about this poor couple and its seems as if our country have forgotton about them no news in local papers anymore !!!! we must keep this going and do whatever it takes to release these poor people !!! I understand that this might put other westerners in danger of kidnap if we pay up , but whats the alternative we cant let them die !!!!