Military

DATE=11/15/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-283174

TITLE= AFGHAN / HOSTAGES (L)

BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE

DATELINE= ISLAMABAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Eight westerners who work for the Christian-based aid group,

Shelter Now are free in Pakistan after being jailed by the Taleban for

more than three months. The eight foreigners and sixteen Afghans were

jailed on charges of trying to convert Afghans to Christianity.

As V-O-As Jim Teeple reports, the sixteen Afghans arrested with the eight foreigners, were freed several days ago after the Northern Alliance took control of Kabul.

TEXT: U-S Special Forces brought the eight, two Americans, two

Australians and four Germans to safety in Pakistan early Thursday.

Officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross played a key

role in the transfer of the eight to coalition forces. I-C-R-C

spokesman Bernerd Barratt says conditions in the region made the

operation very delicate.

/// BARRATT ACT ///

Conditions in many rural areas of Afghanistan are very fluid. Our

primary concern was to ensure their safety. Above all we did not want

to focus any attention on this area until the operation was successfully

completed.

/// END ACT ///

The eight foreigners, along with 16 Afghans were jailed in early August

by the Taleban on charges of attempting to convert Afghans to

Christianity, considered a serious crime under Taleban law.

While Shelter Now officials denied the charges, Taleban authorities

showed foreign reporters stacks of bibles, videotapes and other

paraphernalia translated into Dari and Pashto, which they said

indicated the Shelter Now workers were guilty.

/// OPT /// Speaking to V-O-A in Islamabad on Thursday, Atif Ali, the

Pakistani lawyer assigned to the case, says he is surprised and

delighted that his clients are free.

/// OPTIONAL ALI ACT ///

Well I am very happy to hear this news and I hope to meet them soon. It

is really great to have them back here safe and sound. The situation

was very volatile. It is a very good development.

/// END OPTIONAL ACT /// ///END OPT///

Upon their arrival in Islamabad, the Shelter Now workers were rushed to

their respective embassies. They are said to be in good health but

exhausted. Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, George Taubman the

German head of the Shelter Now team says he and his colleagues were elated on

Monday night when the Taleban began pulling out of Kabul. But, he

says, that elation soon turned to despair, when it became apparent the

Taleban would be taking the eight along with them.

/// TAUBMAN ACT ///

Just before Kabul fell we were so excited to be getting out. We heard

the troops coming in and then the Taleban came in and took us away.

They put us in a vehicle and wanted to take us to Kandahar and we knew if

we ended up in Kandahar we would probably not survive there.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Taubman says the Taleban stopped in the town of Ghazni where he

and his colleagues were locked in a steel container where they spent a

freezing night. At dawn they were transferred to the town jail.

But, he says, during the day on Tuesday Taleban control in Ghazni

collapsed and he and his colleagues were freed by the Northern

Alliance. He says it was a day he will never forget.

/// 2ND TAUBMAN ACT ///

We got out of the prison and we walked through the city. People came

out of their houses and hugged us and greeted us. They were clapping.

They did not know there were foreigners in the prison. We were a big

attraction. Everybody came out of their houses. They were celebrating

and waving at us -- it was like a big celebration for all these

people. I think this was one of the biggest days in my life.

/// END ACT ///

The eight were soon put under the protection of a local commander who

contacted I-C-R-C officials.

Late Wednesday night the eight were taken to a field near Ghazni where

they boarded a U-S Special Forces helicopter for their flight to

safety. (Signed)

NEB/JLT/RH