German social worker Heinrich Wolfgang was released today after 17 days in captivity by the Kuki Liberation Army, a militant outfit in Manipur. The peace trainer was abducted on March 23 while on an inspection tour of the state. In this first person account to The Telegraph, he rues that he has missed the action in Iraq but is obviously happy to be able to communicate with his family now that his ordeal is over.
The boys told me only this morning that I would be freed. What better gift could I have asked for on my 48th birthday?
I remember that we were returning to the capital city on March 23 after a meeting when some armed men in military uniforms stopped our vehicles. They spoke to our local guide in their own tongue. I stood in shock as the guide translated that I have been taken hostage. My other companions were freed while I was ordered to come along with them.
On the first day, we trekked nearly 10 km. Midway, we stopped at a village and then walked to another hideout deep inside the jungle in the hills. We put up inside a small hut and never moved from there. My captors gave me rice, potato and sometimes chicken curry. Since I was not used to the local cuisine, it caused a stomach upset on the third day of my captivity. They gave me some medicines but I could not take them because I have heart trouble. But we all shared the food.
The thought of escape never crossed my mind ringed as I was by 12 armed men. I wouldn’t even know where to run. Sleep eluded me and I felt weak and exhausted. I went without a shower for 17 days and still am in the same clothes when I was abducted. Two of the guards spoke English.
They did have radios but listened to the local news. But it was heartening to hear my name mentioned in the bulletins. Occasionally, they told me about the protests in several parts of the state and appeals by social organisations for my release. Even the newspapers were in their dialect.
One night, two other persons, who did not identify themselves, arrived at the hideout and asked a lot of questions on the development activities being taken up in Manipur by local NGOs with funds from my organisation.
I explained in great detail that our activity is church-related in conflict areas with a “do no harm” approach. When they complained of discrimination in development activity, I told them that our objective was to offer equal opportunity to all communities. They also told me that funds were not being utilised properly.
Now, I hear that the board of governors at Evangelicher Entwicklungs Dienst will investigate and review the whole thing and take a final decision on whether our NGO would continue to fund development activities in Manipur.
It is too early for me to say whether I will ever come to Manipur again or whether I have forgiven my abductors. But having spent so many days with these hill people, I have come to understand their problems and their hard living conditions.
They looked after me well, and there was no ill-treatment or intimidation of any kind. I have no hard feelings against the kidnappers.
As told to Khelen Thokchom