NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — insurgency — 2005 — 05-sept-dec — Viewing Item

Briton peace mission kidnapped Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/29/nirq29.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/11/29/ixnewstop.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/29/nirq29.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/11/29/ixnewstop.html Kidnap Briton's peace mission to Iraq By Jim Muir, Jonathan Petre and Sally Pook (Filed: 29/11/2005) A British anti-war activist abducted in Iraq was investigating human rights abuses with a group called the Christian Peacemakers Team when he was held. As efforts continued to identify the kidnappers yesterday, friends of Norman Kember, 74, spoke of his life-long opposition to war and violence and his work to promote peace and reconciliation. Mr Kember, who is married with a daughter, Jo, was a professor of medical physics at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, before retiring. He was taken captive with two Canadians and an American on Saturday as he left a mosque in Baghdad, where he had met local leaders to discuss rights abuses. Although not a member of the peacemakers team, he was part of a delegation that arrived in Iraq 10 days ago on a £1,700 trip to meet representatives of non-governmental organisations, fledgling Iraqi civil society groups and the US military. The delegation was expected to visit hospitals, schools, mosques and churches and meet Iraqis whose relatives had been detained by US forces or under the previous regime. The organisation, which has had a permanent presence of up to seven members in Iraq since before the war, refused to comment. A man standing at the door of Mr Kember's home in Pinner, north-west London, refused to give his name but read a statement on behalf of the family. "Norman feels very strongly that the occupation in Iraq is a mistake," he said. "He has been a pacifist all his life, working in hospitals rather than doing national service at the age of 18. "He was in Iraq for a short time to join a peace group that is talking and listening to people of all persuasions, believing that dialogue, not confrontation, should help to bring about conciliation." Mr Kember, who was said to have been excited by the trip, is a former secretary of the Baptist Peace Fellowship and a trustee of the Fellowship for Reconciliation, which opposes war and militarism. Chris Cole, the director of the Fellowship for Reconciliation, said: "All members and supporters of our organisation are praying for him and his wife, Pat." The Rev Alan Betteridge, one of the presidents of the Baptist Peace Fellowship, said: "He is a man of integrity who has for years been against war as a means of settling international disputes. "He is also a man with a sense of humour and I hope that the humour and the faith together will sustain him through this trying time." Writing for the Fellowship of Reconciliation website this year, Mr Kember said he was worried about being a "cheap" peacemaker. "Talking, writing, demonstrating" in Britain about peace was not taking risks like young servicemen in Iraq, he said. The Christian Peacemakers Team has about 40 full-time members worldwide, and about 150 part-time. Short-term delegates visit countries on two-week trips. One of the team's convictions is that members have to take the same risks as the people in the country they are visiting. Canon Andrew White, the chief executive of the Foundation for Reconciliation in the Middle East, is working with the Foreign Office and Iraqi authorities to try to identify the kidnappers. He was unable to comment last night. Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, said: "I discussed this matter this morning with the foreign minister [Hoshyar Zebari] of Iraq. He has pledged every assistance from the Iraqi government. "This is a very difficult and very worrying situation for Mr Kember and his family." Mrs Kember was being comforted last night by her daughter and son-in-law, Ian Thomas, who is a lifeboat helmsman in Weymouth. Allen Birch, the press officer for Weymouth lifeboat station and a family friend, said of Mr Kember: "I know him very well. He is a very sincere man, a man committed to peace."

150 dead on second bloodiest day in iraq { September 15 2005 } 3 bombers strike at baghdad hotels { October 25 2005 } Allies withdrawing from iraq { November 2005 } Alqaeda says bomb revenge for offensve on sunnis Basra bomb kills contractors Bomb kills over 100 in baghdad British raids creating chaos in basra { October 10 2005 } Briton peace mission kidnapped Bus suicide bomber kills 30 in iraq Car bomb kills 23 at mosque in iraq Colonel tells iraqs attack helicopters are sounds of peace { October 3 2005 } Forces lead new offensive near syrian border { October 1 2005 } Insurgents bomb sunni arab office in iraq Insurgents control town near syrian border { September 6 2005 } Iraq insurgents kill senior sunni leader Iraq interior ministry jail reports severe torture { December 12 2005 } Iraq mosque blast killed 25 Iraqi and US troops push in northern town Iraqi forces launch offensive in western iraq Iraqs sunnis fear shiite death squads Kidnappers threaten to kill peace activists Near simultaneous bombs kill iraqis buying vegetables Roadside bomb kills 10 marines Sadr militia fights US troops after 13 month peace { September 26 2005 } Sadr residents freed journalist from criminals Sectarian hatred pulls apart iraqs mixed towns { November 20 2005 } Suicide bomber kills 41 in mosque attack Suicide car bomber kills 30 in crowded market { October 11 2005 } Sunnis blame the paramilitary for executions { October 27 2005 } Three iraqi special forces soldiers shot by americans { August 24 2005 } Troop deaths hit 1904 in iraq Troops storm empty insurgent stronghold { September 11 2005 } Troubled white belgian suicide bombs in iraq { December 2 2005 } Two iraqi insurgents are undercover british commandos { September 20 2005 } Undercover brits in basra dress as iraqis { September 20 2005 } US warplanes bombed villages and killed 39 civilians Files Listed: 36

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