No pain, no gain
The answer is no. Nations cannot allow this malaise to spread by succumbing to a few militants’ demands. Once these dastardly organisations know that no one is going to pay them anything, then the kidnappings will stop. Yes, in the process a few innocent lives will be lost unnecessarily, but it will serve a larger aim of preventing such incidents in the future. No pain, no gain. It may sound devilish, but strong and sustained action needs to prevail to offset such loathsome acts.
From Mr Ajit Lamba
Dubai
Lives are more valuable
The solution is short and sweet and requires no political correctness, which is the scourge of national policies everywhere. Pay the ransom that all these major countries can afford and then get a Special Forces team to go and take care of the perpetrators so they will never enjoy their spoils once the hostages are free.
When the combined navy officers started to get rough with the Somali pirates, the waters seemed a little safer. Certainly a national of one’s country is worth a few dollars.
It’s simple and effective. It’s justice that eventually would put an end to kidnapping because of a diminishing return. And of course the age old adage that retribution is a dish best served cold. Funds are traceable these days and drones are effective. I am certain I am not alone in this sentiment, but lives are more valuable than pieces of paper.
From Mr Keith Lupton
UAE
National interest
It is definitely a tricky situation for a country to act on such a demand. If we sympathetically look at the feelings of an individual who is held as a captive or hostage, to save a life, the demand needs to be accepted. If you look at this from a holistic point of view for the general benefits of the nation or world, in the archives of each and every nation, the history talks about martyrs who gave their life for some good cause.
By succumbing to such pressure tactics, the militants and terrorists are always gaining the upper hand and threatening to destroy the peace and harmony of the nation and world. There is a fine example from a few decades ago, when a minister of a country who is expected to maintain law and order was forced to accept the demands of Afghan militants to release dangerous terrorists in exchange for his captive daughter. Politicians though call themselves as a servant of the nation or son of soil and it becomes selfish and takes a decision that harms others as well as protects that person’s future prospects, and it ignores the nation’s interests.
Yes it is true, that taking a decision and not succumbing to the militants will be very difficult, but if a few countries ignore such demands, I am sure militants may not take up that tactic and the government not succumbing to such pressure should completely honour the hostage’s family.
From Mr Dorairajan Ravi
UAE
Ransom demands
Saving of innocent human lives is more important than money. In any bad situation ransom should be paid to the kidnappers. But the ransom money should not be that huge that heavy weaponry can be purchased with that. But lately I feel that the kidnappers should be heavily punished using all means. The Japanese government can use backdoor links to get their men released, and it is possible.
From Mr S. K. Mehta
UAE
Need for dialogues
If the ransom is paid, anyone and everyone will start following the same action. At the same time we need to save the lives of the victims. If an important official’s son is kidnapped, immediately the government takes steps to save him, but the same actions are not followed for a normal man.
To stop all this nonsense of terrorism, we need to engage in a dialogue with the terrorist. If you kill one terrorist, 100 will come. ‘Killing the terrorist’ game has been going on for 50 years, but there is not a successful result. Engaging in dialogue is necessary.
From Mr Mahboob Shariff
UAE
Need to stop them
I wouldn’t support or encourage a nation to succumb to a terrorist’s demands. The ransom would definitely encourage the beasts to kidnap more innocent civilians to satisfy their thirst for blood and it would lead to more terrorism. They would be able to buy weapons and our world would become more of a nightmare for us. May God put a full stop to all these heartless, inhuman terrorist acts.
From Mr Vasanthi Samuel
UAE
Other solutions
Ransom demands should not be given into because it only conveys that the party being asked for the ransom is powerless. If the ransom is given, what will prevent them from asking for more another time? There are other ways to do deal with terrorists. A small scale example I can recall is when, at a Model United Nations conference, we were informed that a group of terrorists had abducted some civilians and demanded a huge ransom - hypothetically of course. Though this was only a mock situation, we realised that as a powerful international body, our purpose is to fight for the good of those in danger, not to give into the demands of terrorists. And so we formulated a plan to deal with them effectively. The experts at the international levels are also vested with the power and skills to come up with viable solutions that do not include giving into the demands of terrorists as it is not the only solution.
From Ms Aasha Eapen
Dubai
Strategic solutions
Life is precious and I think that only in a case of necessity of choice should one weigh the life of hostages in the balance against the nation state’s requirements. The operational and short term solution is freeing the hostages, but the strategic and long term solution is eradictaing poverty, hunger, ignorance and injustice.
From Mr Ajayan Mampatta
UAE
Resist blackmail
The Japanese government has not yielded to Daesh and neither should they. Life of any human is very precious, but honour and writ of any government is above all. If these blackmailers are not resisted with an iron fist, the world would become intolerable. Never yield on such occasions, every country has forces to act in such situations. It is my opinion that all governments should show courage and defeat these terrorists with strong will and conviction.
From Mr Syed Amjad Ali
UAE
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