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Showing posts from April 23, 2020

The Kidnapping 23 April 2000

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On this day 20 years ago - my life took a drastic turn. Something happened which I did not plan. I did not expect. I was not prepared for. And in the end it changed my life forever. It was on the evening of the 23rd April 2000 when a group of armed men besieged the holiday resort I was at and loaded, in a matter of minutes, loaded 21 of us onto two wooden boats. As we sailed into the darkness and open ocean and I saw the light of Sipadan Island disappear,  I could not comprehend was happening. Even more - what was waiting for us. No one can prepare you to survive what we did. Having to face an unforgiving jungle with only the clothes on our bodies.  Our lives in the hands of a rebel group known for the beheading of hostages. Attacked by a military who worried more about "wiping them out"  rather than "getting them out".  And four months of the uncertainty of when death will strike or when freedom will arrive. A roller coaster of emoti