November 26th, 2009
Paul Chandler on the Lynn Rival
An article was found on Fox News, posted November 1, 2009, that gives some hope that it may be easier to get Paul and Rachel home quicker and for less money!
According to the news post, Andrew Mwangura, coordinator of the East African Seafarers’ Assistance Program announced he has been working with Somali elders to help free the couple.
“The (Somali) pirates realize now that the Chandlers are not rich people. They will be persuaded to lower their demand, maybe to $165,000″- as quoted by Mwangura
While it appears the pirates are willing to negotiate, the fact still stands that they are still being held with the impending threat of being killed if their demands are not met. Some of you may not agree with giving into the pirates demands, however, if we can help these people escape from the region it will clear the way for the US, British and other governments to ‘get involved’ to put a permanent end to this problem!
Tags: kidnapped british sailors, Lynn Rival, paul chandler, somali pirates
Posted in Current News, Donation Info | 2 Comments »
November 26th, 2009
Paul and Rachel Chandler
Thank you to the people that have donated to the Save The Chandlers cause!
As I have posted on the Save The Chandlers Facebook Group, I will be trying to get in touch with companies such as Google to see if they can help spread the word and find people to help with this cause. Also, thank you to all those that have contacted me via [email protected] in offering to help.
EDIT 2/1/2010: A LOT has changed since I first posted this. The money will be going to the family and/or people that can help secure their safe release. It became evident that this is a better route to go than getting an international company such as Google involved, which was my first intentions. It became very clear that involving a corporation to help was not the best course of action.
The money being raised WILL be used to benefit the cause of getting Paul and Rachel Chander safely home to their family and friends. While the British and American governments have a policy of ‘no negotiations’ something MUST be done to help this kidnapped couple escape. Whether the money is used to pay the ransom (which DOES occur regardless of our governments’ intervention) or used to hire a ‘negotiations’ team to speak with the Somali government, it goes without saying that the money WILL help the cause.
If anyone here has any ties to the US or British Government Special Forces, I will be more than happy to talk with them AND offer some names of people that have volunteered to go to Somalia and work on this problem.
Once again, thank you for all your support and PLEASE keep spreading the word and sending in donations. With each dollar raised, Paul and Rachel Chandler are that much closer to coming home!
Tags: British couple kidnapped, donate money to save chandlers, paul chandler, somali pirates
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November 23rd, 2009
Military of Defense - the Wave Knight- watched as Paul and Rachel Chandler were kidnapped
While this isnt NEW news, its news none-the-less and worthly of posting.
According to a BBC article on Friday November 13th, 2009, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker – the Wave Knight – watched as Paul and Rachel Chandler were forced off their yacht, the Lynn Rival. Details of the Navy operation were leaked to the press by an anonymous crew member. It was revealed that the RFA Wave Knight had come within 50ft of the couple’s yacht at one point.
A Ministry of Defense spokesman said:
“Every effort was made by the Royal Navy and the international maritime fleet to locate the Lynn Rival. We did everything we could possibly do without further endangering the lives of Paul and Rachel Chandler. We do not comment on operational detail but RFA Wave Knight did very well under the circumstances.”
An official account of the kidnap released last month said only that a Royal Navy vessel had found the couple’s yacht empty, without disclosing that the couple were within sight at the time.
In a phone call on 29 October, the couple, from Tunbridge Wells, said they were initially moved from their yacht to a container ship, the Kota Wajar, which had also been seized by the pirates.
It is thought they were then moved to another ship anchored off the eastern coast of Somalia before being taken to the mainland.
The pirates have issued a $7 million (£4.3 million) ransom demand but the British government has insisted it will not make any ransom payment.
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November 23rd, 2009
Rachel and Paul Chandler
Thanks to the help of both this site and the Facebook group, which now has 309 members (up from 70 on Friday), the message is spreading quickly about the Chandlers. I just came across an article that was written on Saturday located at Kentonline.co.uk which talks about their story. They reiterate that the pirates are getting very restless and there is a strong possibility they could be ‘killed within a week’.
Unfortunately, there has been no follow up video to the one released on Friday, however Im happy to see that more people are getting involved! The more that get involved with this matter, the better chance Paul and Rachel Chandler will make it through unharmed. Also, thank you to all those that have emailed at [email protected] with your support.
Tags: kidnapped british citizens, paul chandler, somali pirates
Posted in Current News | No Comments »
November 22nd, 2009
I’ve received some emails from people that want to get involved…thank you! One person in particular (Aaron from Los Angeles) has offered to go to Somalia and help get them released. There is nothing I would like more than to have this happen so I hope he/they are able to follow through on their offer.
It has been a busy day for me with other commitments, as it will be for the next week, however I will keep looking for new articles. if I find any that offer anything we don’t already know, I will post them. Thank you to all the people (and there have been A LOT) that have come to this site. It also tells me that people DO care about helping to get Paul and Rachel Chandler released from their captors. It tells me that we might be closer to finding a solution to this whole Somali pirate problem.
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November 21st, 2009
The stats are showing that the FaceBook group dedicated to Paul and Rachel Chandler have more then doubled since last night at 11:00pm to 170 members. This site has gathered some attention from search engines and concerned readers. However, I am still looking for others to take over this blog!
My goal is to help the Chandlers, however I cant do it on my own. If you want to help Paul and Rachel Chandler obtain freedom from their Somali captives, then spreading the word about this subject (and posting blogs) is imperative!
I have no idea if raising money or spreading awareness is the best thing to do for this couple that was hijacked last month. But, what I do know, is that if more people offer to help and support this cause then it WILL get the attention of the powers that be that can make something positive happen!
I cant stress this enough, I (or we, if I can speak collectively for the FaceBook group) need help with posting information about this subject until it is resolved. I cant help but think that if nobody steps up to the plate and offers to lend a hand then the result will not be good for this couple.
Help today by contacting me at [email protected] or on the FaceBook group and I will give you full access to posting on this this site.
Tags: help paul and rachel chandler, kidnapped british, paul chandler
Posted in Current News, Donation Info | No Comments »
November 21st, 2009
According to an article found here: http://somalilandpress.com/9740/somalia-pirates-kidnapped-couples-family-urge-release/
The family of the kidnapped British sailors have pleaded for their release. Im glad to see that they are trying to persuade the pirated to do the “humanitarian thing and let them go”, as quoted by BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner.
According to reports it appears that they (the Chandlers) are very concerned about an Islamist group in Somalia called Al-Shabaab possibly ‘purchasing’ them and placing more demands.
In a video released yesterday Mrs Chandler said: “We are told that there is a terrorist cell, or a fanatic cell, searching for us and we are also feeling very much under threat now that these people themselves won’t hesitate to take our lives.”
Tags: free the chandlers, somali pirates, Somalilandpress
Posted in Current News | 7 Comments »
November 21st, 2009
The Chandlers boat found abandoned
I just found another article about the kidnapping of Paul and Rachel Chandler. Please keep spreading the word and consider GETTING INVOLVED! I have created this site for the sole purpose of give an electronic means of creating awareness and support. If you want to help post articles and spread the word, please contact me either through Facebook or at [email protected]
Tags: Chandler kidnapping, help the chandlers, Lynn Rival, somali pirates
Posted in Current News, Donation Info | 1 Comment »
November 21st, 2009
Last night, while I was working on this site, there were 60 – 70 members of the group “Free Paul and Rachel Chandler“, now there are 117 and it appears to be growing as I type this. I have intentionally left my name off this site because I dont want any credit for this, however I will also be contributing to the FaceBook group as well and my information should be available for people to see.
My goal is to somehow raise the funds or interest in people that could help. I firmly believe with the power of the internet, WE can make this happen!
Posted in Donation Info, General Thoughts | No Comments »
November 21st, 2009
Paul and Rachel Chandlers Website outlining the voyage on their boat "Lynn Rival"
I just found the Chandlers website that is/was documenting their journey. Their last entry was “PLEASE RING SARAH” posted on Friday October 23, 2009. According to reports, this would have been 1 day after the capture.
I haven’t read through the whole site yet, however it appears that all was well until the last post.
With the last message in all CAPs making reference to “Sarah”, I would assume that the Chandlers may have access to a satellite phone and were reaching out for help.
Sarah, if there is anything I, or this site, can do right now, please contact me at [email protected] As I’ve been mentioning, my goal is to help people like the Chandlers in coming to a resolution of this matter through the power of the internet.
Tags: Lynn Rival, Lynn Rival's voyages, paul chandlers website
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