Italian tourists taken hostage in Odisha: TV reports

Hm, yes, my comment just above was of course too hasty, too insular. In an ideal world, I guess of course we could all meet one another on our own terms.

Maybe there lies the problem though: In many of these cases, you don't start from a position of equality. It's small wonder who will be at the lesser end of the equation here.

The history of Naxalism is complex, maybe I'll be back on it later. With what little I know or think I know of it, really not much. (Interesting how it's more commonly designated Maoism these days, btw. That is indeed where the ideology derives from, but it's just a funny change in tone. Maybe because it has a clearer anti-Chinese ring to it?)

Like everybody here in indiamike I'm preoccupated about this particular case but as far as a foreigner traveling quite often to Orissa and specially to the tribal areas, this abduction has nothing to do with tourist and/or tribals.

The war is between the governement and naxalites, the unlucky italians were there. I'm sure the decission to abduct foreigners was already taked by naxalites as a different and new way to
continue their never-ending war.

Tourism is just a very good excuse for the authorities and is absolutely ridiculous to talk seriously about "tribal safaris" or other similar things. Very few people is interested in tribals and few hundreds visit this areas evey year.


Jorge

Maoists kidnap BJD MLA

Who are they going to abduct/kidnap next...CM?

good news
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...w/12402549.cms

Yes, indeed. Lets hope the other will soon be free, too.

@ Jorge: Thanks for sharing your experience. I have not been to Orissa so I cant know how bad the situation with the Tourists really is. My impression was that Orissa is still very much off the tourist trail, and that there cant actually be too many of them. But maybe still enough to be a nuisance sometimes, in some places? But one or two small abductions, and soon there will be no tourist left. Which will probably be very well for Maoists and Government alike.

The second Italian is finaly free, too!
There seems to be a happy end.
http://blogs.reuters.com/jatindradash/

The MLA* Jhina Hikaka is still in captivity.


*Member of the Legislative Assembly

Golghar
sorry to hear you but to be honest as foreigner who travels to India I feel really good that the hostages of other country are free.
Take care
Ivana

He's a v. lucky boy! He wouldn't have been held hostage if he had not been so completely stupid in the first place.

Chances of any actual 'tourist' being kidnapped are so remote isn't it? Unless you are somewhere you shouldn't be doing something deceitful.

Yes, thats true. I feel bad about forgetting him. So the happy end is still waiting. Probably there will be no happy end at all, even if Hikaka is freed. This small episode will be solved, but struggle will go on for many people in this troubled area.