Live News - A Survival Guide - International Federation of Journalists

CHAPTER 4Abductions, hostage taking and targeting journalistssafe within a certain time frame? Will they be able to follow yourtrail. Abductors work inside areas they know well and where theyfeel safe. The evidence is that hostages can be moved easily and frequentlywithout much risk of discovery.If you decide to go ahead with a potentially hazardous arrangement,leave clear instructions about where you are going. Agreecode words that you can use in a phone conversation to let theother person know whether you are safe, and an alert time atwhich people start to look for you. Code words should be words youinsert to show that you are safe, rather than unsafe. If you havebeen abducted you will probably be speaking from a script, andhave no opportunity to insert code words.If you are being taken somewhere by an intermediary, discuss inadvance with colleagues the point beyond which you will not go;at which point you will try to abort the process and return to safety.This may, for example, be if your contact tries to leave the car.Obviously, it may not be possible to put such a change of plan intoeffect, so if you do have such a ‘no go’ point, you must be preparedto put an attempt to escape into action with speed and an elementof surprise.SURVIVING ABDUCTION◆ Retain mental alertness and apositive attitude.◆ Try to build a relationship withyour abductor.◆ Do what you are told — do notantagonise your captors.◆ Adopt a positive routine.◆ Seek improvements in yourconditions.◆ Talk to someone in your mind.Make plans with them.◆ Do not believe promises ofrelease, until it happens.Surviving the experienceIf you have been abducted, you will be frightened and unsurewhether you will survive the next minute, hour or day. Remindyourself that most people survive the experience and return safely.Experience of those who have survived being taken hostage suggeststhat there are some things you can do to help your chances ofsurvival and to allow you to endure the intervening period.You have lost physical but not mental control. You need to prepareto endure a period of mental and physical stress, and to survivethis you will need a positive mental attitude. So far as possible,try not to show your emotions. Use your feelings positively to planhow you will act. There are things that you should do both in theshort term and in the longer term.◆ Make it difficult for your captors to treat you inhumanely. If youcan develop a relationship, you may reduce the risk of beingphysically harmed. Talk about your family. If they do not removepersonal possessions, put pictures of your family where you canlook at them and talk to them.◆ Do as you are told. Behave politely and do not antagonise yourcaptors.56