Hostage Taking and then Murdering People breach " fundamental standards of humanity" by Human Rights Watch / United Nations 9:37pm 21st Jun, 2004   United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan:    "The secretary general condemns in the strongest terms this heartless crime, which no political or other cause can justify,"    The Secretary-General appealed for the immediate and safe release of all hostages being held in Iraq.    “It’s really tragic. These kinds of brutal acts do not help anybody.. "My sympathies go to his family and loved ones, and I hope the perpetrators will eventually be brought to justice, because we cannot tolerate this kind of behaviour in today’s world,” he added.    Human Rights Watch: Joe Stork , Washington Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division    "Holding someone hostage, and then brutally murdering him, is a heinous crime that no political cause can justify. Those responsible for this atrocity and for earlier attacks that have killed scores of civilians.. should be apprehended and brought to justice".    23.6.2004. (SBS World News)    A South Korean held hostage in Iraq has been beheaded by his captors, sparking outrage in his home country and around the world. South Korean officials confirmed late on Tuesday that the body of Kim Sun-il, a 33-year-old translator, had been found west of Baghdad.    A terrified Kim had been shown pleading for his life in video footage released on Sunday. His captors had threatened to kill him if Seoul did not drop its plan to send 3,000 troops to Iraq. News of his death was reported by South Korean officials. "It breaks our heart that we have to announce this unfortunate news,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Shin Bong-kil. “The government pray for the deceased and offer our deepest condolences for the bereaved family."    UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he was appalled and called for the release of all others being held hostage in the country. "The secretary general condemns in the strongest terms this heartless crime, which no political or other cause can justify," his spokesman said in a statement..    After news of his death broke, South Korean television showed Kim's distraught family weeping with grief at their home in the south-eastern port city of Busan. In a traditional funeral rite, they laid out watermelon and other fruit on a cloth before a photograph of Kim.    22 June 2004 – United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today condemned the murder of Kim Sun-Il, an interpreter from the Republic of Korea who was working for a trade company in Iraq when he was abducted last week.    In a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr. Annan said he was appalled by the killing of Mr. Kim. Mr. Annan "condemns in the strongest terms this heartless crime, which no political or other cause can justify," the statement said, adding the Secretary-General appealed for the immediate and safe release of all hostages being held in Iraq. The Secretary-General also offered his condolences to the family of Mr. Kim and to the Government of the Republic of Korea.    (New York, June 18, 2004) – Human Rights Watch.    Saudi Arabia: Killing of Hostage Unjustifiable.    The execution of an American contractor in Saudi Arabia reported today is a blatant act of murder and a breach of the most fundamental standards of humanity, Human Rights Watch said.    Holding someone hostage, and then brutally murdering him, is a heinous crime that no political cause can justify. Those responsible for this atrocity and for earlier attacks that have killed scores of civilians, Saudi and foreign alike, should be apprehended and brought to justice.  Joe Stork ,  Washington Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division    18 June 2004 . United Nations News.    United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said the execution in Saudi Arabia of a hostage from the United States was tragic, and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.    “It’s really tragic. These kinds of brutal acts do not help anybody,” the Secretary-General said during an encounter with the press about reports that hostage Paul Johnson was beheaded.    “My sympathies go to his family and loved ones, and I hope the perpetrators will eventually be brought to justice, because we cannot tolerate this kind of behaviour in today’s world,” he added.
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