In harm's way.FREETOWN, Sierra Leone--The kidnappings and killings of Catholic missionaries early this year drew attention not only to the courage and vulnerability of missionaries but also this West African West Africa A region of western Africa between the Sahara Desert and the Gulf of Guinea. It was largely controlled by colonial powers until the 20th century. West African adj. & n. country's 10-year-old civil war, which has developed into a battle between rebels and government forces supported by a regional "peacekeeping peace·keep·ing adj. Of or relating to the preservation of peace, especially the supervision by international forces of a truce between hostile nations. peace " force. In January and February, the archbishop of Freetown, Joseph Ganda Joseph Henry Ganda (born March 22,1932 in Serabu, Bo District, Sierra Leone) is the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo in Sierra Leone. Born in the village Serabu in the Bo district, he was the first in the area to study for the priesthood. , was kidnapped Kidnapped caught in the intrigues of Scottish factions, David Balfour and Alan Breck are shipwrecked, escape from the king’s soldiers, and undergo great dangers. [Br. Lit.: R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped] See : Adventurousness and later released. Over the next several weeks, rebels kidnapped about 20 others. One Xaverian priest was wounded, and three Missionaries of Charity--the order founded by Mother Teresa--were shot and killed. The remaining either escaped or were released. Catholic missionaries became targets after the neighborhood where they were headquartered became a hot spot of fighting. By kidnapping kidnapping, in law, the taking away of a person by force, threat, or deceit, with intent to cause him to be detained against his will. Kidnapping may be done for ransom or for political or other purposes. missionaries, the rebels hoped to gain publicity and negotiate leverage. The Catholic Church has refused to accept any conditions set for the release of those kidnapped and has tried to keep the focus on the food shortages, needs of refugees, and atrocities both sides have committed in the war. |
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