Product Description
Captured by terrorists, kept in solitary
confinement, guarded by men with AK47s and little respect for life.
Could you survive it?
Bundaberg photojournalist Nigel Brennan travels to
Somalia with Canadian reporter Amanda Lindhout. They are abducted by a criminal
gang that puts a price of US$3 million on their heads. If it's not paid, they
will be killed. And the Australian government does not pay
ransoms.
After more than a year of stalled negotiations,
Nigel's family takes matters into their own hands. They go against government
advice, scarifying their livelihoods, their houses and personal lives to bring
the hostages home. Meanwhile, the kidnappers are losing patience. Brutalised,
shackled, not knowing when or how the situation will end, Nigel faces the fight
of his life.
This is a story about what it takes to survive, and
how far a family will go for freedom, whatever the price.
I read The Price of Life after reading Amanda
Lindhout's memoir A House in the Sky. They are very different accounts.
Lindhout’s book focuses on the ordeal she and Nigel suffered when they are
kidnapped whereas this one is written also from the point of view of Nigel and
his family. It covers the shock and disbelief on hearing the news (his family
thought Nigel was in Kenya, he did not disclose to them that he was going into
Somalia). It portrays the stress, tension and frustration involved as they try
to negotiate for Nigel and Amanda’s release. Government agents move into Nigel’s
parents’ home and his sister and sister in law are trained in how to talk to
the kidnappers when they get in touch. Imagine how you would feel in their
place and you will know the gamut of emotions they experienced as time drags on
and each day they are uncertain about Nigel’s fate. As negotiations stall and
the government appear to lose interest, the family set about selling their
homes, depleting their bank accounts, fund raising and doing anything they can
to raise the cash needed.
Meanwhile Amanda’s pretty dysfunctional Canadian
family seem to be dragging their heels in the misplaced hope that their
government will come up trumps - they don’t. But Nigel’s family know that Nigel
would not entertain the possibility of gaining his own freedom unless Amanda was
also set free and they need to raise the money for both ransoms even if the
Canadians don’t come up with their share.
They had to learn who to trust - there was so much
lying, deception and double dealing with the Somali’s. How to transfer the money
without going to jail because it is a criminal offence to fund terrorists. They
couldn’t guarantee that the money would actually reach the gang who held their
loved ones as there was so much lawlessness and inter-gang warfare, and if the
cash (not a cheque or money bond - it was cash! ) did get to its intended
recipient, whether that would actually ensure that Nigel and Amanda would be
released alive. The emotional toll was horrendous and I wonder what would have
happened without their sacrifice, commitment and perseverance
It was a very interesting and informative account,
however, be aware that the use of abbreviations for different governmental
groups is confusing, so be sure to write down the abbreviation and the meaning
when it is first introduced.
A book well worth reading in conjunction with House
in the Sky.
Nigel Brennan is on face book and in In 2013, he competed in the Clipper
Round the World Yacht Race,
he lives in Sidney.
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