"It's a deeply jarring experience to go from free to captive, especially in such a terrifying environment. The level of attention drawn to Ms Heraty's plight by the media and Government... will only work against her."
"If a lot of people care about that hostage, the gang knows it. They will absolutely use that as leverage to get more, whether it be monetary or non-monetary."
"The reason [a secret approach] is good is because you can start leveraging non-monetary forms of persuasion. So things that the gang may or may not want that are not cash ransom."
"Otherwise, the only way to get out quick is to pay a large amount, and even then, it's rare that they'd even let you out."
Jeff Frazier, a non-profit worker in Haiti, experienced kidnapping and torture at the hands of a gang. He warns that media attention and government involvement in hostage situations can negatively impact outcomes, giving kidnappers leverage. He suggests that a secretive diplomatic approach may be more effective, enabling negotiations that involve non-monetary incentives. Paying a large ransom typically does not guarantee quick release or safety for captives. Additionally, those familiar with the environment may cope better with the stressful situation.
Read at Irish Independent
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