Mother pleads with IS to free son
Print Edition
THE deadline set by Islamist militants threatening to kill two Japanese men unless they were given US$200 million passed yesterday, after the mother of one of the captives made a desperate plea to save her son’s life.
Japan had heard nothing from the extremists holding Kenji Goto, a freelance journalist, or Haruna Yukawa, the self-employed contractor who he had gone to rescue, the chief government spokesman said.
“There has been no message” from the Islamic State group since the 72-hour deadline expired at 2:50pm yesterday, Yoshihide Suga told reporters.
“The situation remains very severe, but the government is making its utmost efforts, asking and asking for cooperation from many countries and heads of ethnic groups.”
Hours earlier, Junko Ishido launched an emotional appeal for mercy for Goto, her son.
“I say to you people of the Islamic State, Kenji is not your enemy. Please release him,” she said. “Kenji was always saying ‘I hope to save lives of children on battlefields.’ He was reporting war from a neutral position.”
The drama in Tokyo comes three days after the release of a video in which Goto and Yukawa, apparently kneeling in the desert, are threatened with execution by a British-accented man.
“You now have 72 hours to pressure your government into making a wise decision by paying the US$200 million to save the lives of your citizens,” he said.
The Islamists linked the ransom to the amount of cash Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would be earmarking to help countries dealing with the influx of refugees fleeing fighting between IS and regular forces.
Asked by a journalist if she thinks Tokyo should pay the ransom, as it has in previous hostage situations, Ishido said: “Yes, I very much hope so.”
“Japan has maintained a friendly relationship with Islamic nations. The time remaining is scarce. I beg you Japanese government officials, please save Kenji’s life.”
Ishido, who was identified as Goto’s birth mother, said she had learned on Thursday that his wife had given birth two weeks ago when the two spoke on the telephone for the first time.
“Kenji left for the IS with a gentle heart hoping to save a life of his Japanese colleague,” she said, referring to reports that Goto had been on a mercy mission to rescue Yukawa.
“He didn’t care about his safety because he believed he and people of IS would be able to understand each other, as members of the global community.”
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said the government was making every effort to secure the hostages’ release.
Asked whether Japan would pay the ransom, Kishida said: “We will not give in to terrorism. We will fight against terrorism in cooperation with other countries.”
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