The Stockholm Syndrome--alive and well

[GregM]

Terrorist with a conscience. Awwwww, ain't he nice?

Islamic Man Phones Ex-Hostage, Apologizes

By VANESSA GERA
The Associated Press
Friday, November 14, 2003; 5:31 PM

VIENNA, Austria - An Austrian man who was among 17 Europeans taken hostage by Islamic extremists in the Sahara Desert said Friday that he had recently received a friendly call from his main captor, who was concerned about his well-being.

Ingo Bleckmann, a 60-year-old from Salzburg who was held for nearly two months before being freed in May, said the unnamed Algerian man called him at his home to express remorse for his actions.

"At 6 a.m. the phone rang," Bleckmann said in an interview on state television. "He was pleased to hear that all the former hostages are doing well. In that time (during the hostage taking), we managed to build a very good personal relationship. So I was really happy that he called to ask about us and to wish us all the best."

Bleckmann was among a group of tourists kidnapped in March in the Sahara by a group of about 30 Islamic fundamentalists. The hostages - 10 Austrians, six Germans and a Swede - were released unharmed May 13 in an Algerian commando raid. Bleckmann's 25-year-old son Andreas was also in the group.

The kidnappers remain at large.

A second group of 15 Europeans was also taken hostage around the same time. A 45-year-old German woman in that group died of heatstroke in late June, two months before the other 14 were finally freed.

Asked how the kidnapper knew his home phone number, Bleckmann said he had given him a business card while in captivity. Bleckmann has emerged as the main spokesman for the group, in part because he speaks French well, the only common language with the Algerian kidnappers.

He said he was taken aback when he first heard the voice on the phone, but then recognized the distinct accent of the man on the line.

Bleckmann also said the man apologized for what he had done.

"It was clear to him that this was an act of terror against people not involved" in Algerian politics, Bleckmann said.

Algerian authorities blamed the kidnapping on the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, which is fighting to topple the country's military-backed government and has been linked to the al-Qaida terrorist network.

Just days after Austrian members of Bleckmann's group returned home, Bleckmann said the captors told him they were trying to raise awareness that Islamic fundamentalists were being prevented from taking power even though they had won democratic elections in 1992 by a large majority.

He and most of the other Austrians described their captors as humane and religious men who never put the hostages' lives in danger. Many even expressed understanding for the motives of the kidnappers.

Bleckmann was cited Friday by the Austria Press Agency as saying he and his son are making a movie about the hostage crisis to raise awareness of the plight of the fundamentalists.

He said he had met in Vienna with the Algerian prime minister to ask that the kidnappers not be given the death penalty, should they be arrested.

"These are valuable human beings," Bleckmann said. "They are also open to dialogue with the Algerian government."

© 2003 The Associated Press

[Dr Dave]

C'mon, Greg, if you're going to be a bomb-thrower here, at least get your references straight. "Stockholm Syndrome" refers to the captive identifying with his captors. Here we have a captor identifying with those he captured. I mean, the news is that the kidnapper called his captive to see how he was doing. The captive's response is pretty much irrelevant.

I think you have a great future in vituperation. Focus, man, focus!

[GregM]

"Bleckmann has emerged as the main spokesman for the group, in part because he speaks French well, the only common language with the Algerian kidnappers." If that ain't the captive identifying with his captors, what is?

[bluenoter]

Originally posted by GregM
"Bleckmann has emerged as the main spokesman for the group, in part because he speaks French well, the only common language with the Algerian kidnappers." If that ain't the captive identifying with his captors, what is?

Uh, that would be the main spokesman for his group of hostages, not the main spokesman for the kidnappers.

[GregM]

Earth to bluenoter and Dave: THE GUY IS MAKING A MOVIE "TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE PLIGHT OF THE FUNDAMENTALISTS". Face it. He came away nearly as brainwashed as his captors. Bleckmann has lobbied the Algerian PM on their behalf. He most certainly is a spokesman for the group.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

He meant to say Oslo-Copenhagen Syndrome. You guys knew what he meant!

I think it's actually the Maltz Syndrome: You side with no one, just argue, argue, argue...until you have had the last word.

[Monte Smith]

No, looking at the article, this is definitely the Stockholm Syndrome. I understand the confusion, obviously, as this is the first time I have ever heard of the *requited* Stockholm Syndrome.

[Dr Dave]

I missed it. He's making a movie. You're right, I'm wrong. I apologize.