People who risk kidnap/arrest by rogue nations


ricohflex

Senior Member
Feb 24, 2005
3,912
73
48
sing
Iran Says It Arrested 3 American Hikers (in 2009)


Freed journalists Laura Ling, Euna Lee call captivity in N. Korea a nightmare (in 2009)


North Korea sentences US citizen to 15 years' hard labour (tour operator in 2013)


Why do they knowingly and purposely go near to or into the rogue nations that have tensions with their home country?

Possibilities:
• they really are under cover espionage for (CIA, etc...).
• they are not espionage agents, but they desperately crave 10 minutes of fame on TV networks after being arrested
• for reporters, they expect this to boost their career, after they are released
• they want make millions from a book (written on their behalf by ghost-writers sent by the publishing house)
• they want to make millions selling the rights to their story to be made into a movie

This is irresponsible. The country spends a lot of time, money and effort to secure their release.
Ex-US Presidents (Clinton & then Carter) have to be mobilised to visit a dictator to negotiate their release. How many millions US$ are donated to the rogue nation to secure their release is not publicised.
 

Last edited:
Iran Says It Arrested 3 American Hikers (in 2009)


Freed journalists Laura Ling, Euna Lee call captivity in N. Korea a nightmare (in 2009)


North Korea sentences US citizen to 15 years' hard labour (tour operator in 2013)


Why do they knowingly and purposely go near to or into the rogue nations that have tensions with their home country?

Possibilities:
• they really are under cover espionage for (CIA, etc...).
• they are not espionage agents, but they desperately crave 10 minutes of fame on TV networks after being arrested
• for reporters, they expect this to boost their career, after they are released
• they want make millions from a book (written on their behalf by ghost-writers sent by the publishing house)
• they want to make millions selling the rights to their story to be made into a movie

This is irresponsible. The country spends a lot of time, money and effort to secure their release.
Ex-US Presidents (Clinton & then Carter) have to be mobilised to visit a dictator to negotiate their release. How many millions US$ are donated to the rogue nation to secure their release is not publicised.

1. It's a free world. People do what they like whether or not we agree to it or not.

2. We are not US citizens and should not feel outraged. There are plenty more things to be outraged about like preventable diseases in Africa, overpopulation in countries where contraception is banned on religious grounds, starving children in third world countries while farmers in first world countries are given subsidies not to produce too much (or are paid subsidies to destroy their oversupply).

3. Let's use our time more productively than to feel outraged over issues we can neither influence or (especially) does not impact our lives in anyway. (unless you claim that these donations are fuelled by QE3 and drives inflation in Sg...long shot!)
 

Iran Says It Arrested 3 American Hikers (in 2009)


Freed journalists Laura Ling, Euna Lee call captivity in N. Korea a nightmare (in 2009)


North Korea sentences US citizen to 15 years' hard labour (tour operator in 2013)


Why do they knowingly and purposely go near to or into the rogue nations that have tensions with their home country?

Possibilities:
• they really are under cover espionage for (CIA, etc...).
• they are not espionage agents, but they desperately crave 10 minutes of fame on TV networks after being arrested
• for reporters, they expect this to boost their career, after they are released
• they want make millions from a book (written on their behalf by ghost-writers sent by the publishing house)
• they want to make millions selling the rights to their story to be made into a movie

This is irresponsible. The country spends a lot of time, money and effort to secure their release.
Ex-US Presidents (Clinton & then Carter) have to be mobilised to visit a dictator to negotiate their release. How many millions US$ are donated to the rogue nation to secure their release is not publicised.

The Life of Ricohflex: Conspiracy Theorist
 

Yeah, be thankful to your government and the last 30 years of education that have successfully instilled the idea that even stepping across the causeway is so dangerous. You surely will not get into such situations :bsmilie:
But thankfully, this world also has people who want to explore other countries, cultures. People who are not afraid of unknown conditions, no maids around to clean after you, the next hospital 500km away or more, only local food of unknown preparation etc. People who advocate communication among people for a better understanding. We have a few also in this forum, check the threads about the trekking tours to Nepal and other areas.
Any people running into other countries with any missionary agenda (especially religious) .. well .. I'm still unsure whether taking them hostage is actually a pretty good idea.
 

I declare this thread as time wasting post :bsmilie:
Is it intentional.. or just attention seeking ? :dunno:
LKY or GCT should moderate this forum ;p
 

There are travel advisories for the ordinary travellers. If the people choose to no heed this advises, then they should bear the consequences. However, I have to agree with Ricohflex on his list of possibilities. Unlike terrorists, these countries do not "kidnap" people. Usually these people's action provided or provoked the arrest to be made.

I have attended a talk by Roxana. She shared her experience of being held captive in an Iranian prison where other people with opposing political PoV are being held, how she was being interrogated and her views on Iran. My personal opinion was that she has had an agenda and was doing her journalist probing around which arouses the suspicion of Iranian internal securities. And then she a story to tell and wrote a book and travel around the world telling her experience and selling her book. 2 months of ordeal. A life changing experience. Plenty of money to make.

American Freelance Journalist Is in Prison, Iran Says | Fox News
 

Last edited:
They go there for exposure, take some photos, write a story, get a writer's credit or photo credit, or submit pic to some competition see can win prize or not, no win nevermind as long as pic get published also got photo credit, can haolian to friends on facebook, or ask clubsnap forum how to charge the magazine, realized cannot, rant here and there research copyright law, post sections here chapter there, end of the day go there but sway sway ganna arrested by the governments who don't tolerate such nonsense it is my human right to take photos in public place nonsense, imprisoned for 10 20 years, backside tunnel skin all gone, finally can come back. Irresponsible because other people have to spend time money effort and risk life for them? Judging their agenda based on your opinion and starting a thread for it? Is that what you mean? You have too much time on your hands I nominate you for the kopitiam award.
 

Only Singapore passport commands respect from other countries even Iran and the likes. Just show our red passport to the customs, they will like you
 

Families of the 3 young backpackers claimed that they "accidentally crossed the border while backpacking through northern Iraq"

Use your common sense. Draw your own conclusion.

Marivan is inside Iran and is at least 20 km away by road from nearest Iraq/Iran border.



This is how desolate the road looks like. (Photo credit: www.trekearth.com)

marivan.jpg
 

Last edited:
very nice Hdr image of losing their way.
 

very nice Hdr image of losing their way.

Some people would pay anything to get this kind of image.
I remember a photographer spent a lot of time underwater just to get his prize winning tiger photo.
He was infested with parasites.. etc.. but he said it was worth it.
So.. whatever to get them going..ts no need to be kp
 

Families of the 3 young backpackers claimed that they "accidentally crossed the border while backpacking through northern Iraq"

Use your common sense. Draw your own conclusion.

Marivan is inside Iran and is at least 20 km away by road from nearest Iraq/Iran border.
20 km nia.

I have seen LRRPies with combat loads almost half their body weight cover that distance within 4 to 5 hours by foot during classified exercises and they are still only 1/8 to their objective behind enemy lines. Most territorial borders around the world are also unfenced and unmarked as well. BTW, there are NSmen who hollanded for more than 20 km by foot as well and we have to go extract them out before they invade other sovereign countries.
 

Last edited:
20 km nia.

I have seen LRRPies with combat loads almost half their body weight cover that distance within 4 to 5 hours by foot during classified exercises and they are still only 1/8 to their objective behind enemy lines. Most territorial borders around the world are also unfenced and unmarked as well. BTW, there are NSmen who hollanded for more than 20 km by foot as well and we have to go extract them out before they invade other sovereign countries.

Brunei is really close to East Malaysia . easily cross if not alert.
 

Another case in 2004 involving 3 Japanese - a journalist and 2 aid workers.
THE STRUGGLE FOR IRAQ: THE HOSTAGES; Freed From Captivity in Iraq, Japanese Return to More Pain

''You got what you deserve!'' read one hand-written sign at the airport where they landed. ''You are Japan's shame,'' another wrote on the Web site of one of the former hostages. They had ''caused trouble'' for everybody. The government, not to be outdone, announced it would bill the former hostages $6,000 for air fare.

The Homecoming of Japanese Hostages from Iraq: Culturalism or Japan in America’s Embrace?

On their return to Japan (16 April 2004), the hostages appeared defensively solemn, having been harshly criticized and shamed for their effrontery to travel to a government-declared danger zone and undertake anti-war actions perceived as critical of both the Japanese and U.S. presence in Iraq.

The five were compelled to say they were “sorry” for their transgression and were pressured to pay back some of their repatriation expenses to the state. In the story’s moral ending, they should have been acting with “self-responsibility” (jiko sekinin).
 

Last edited:
Why Ricohflex started this thread? Any Singaporean or PR got napped overseas?

What about PR? Who is responsible to extract them - native or adopted country?
 

Why Ricohflex started this thread? Any Singaporean or PR got napped overseas?

What about PR? Who is responsible to extract them - native or adopted country?

obviously native country, they are still citizens of their native country. PR just makes them long-term resident of another country.