Free, at last!
Thursday, June 30, 2011 Publié par Eric Tenin
Unfortunately, it's not the first time I mentioned that some French people are held hostage somewhere in the world... (remember Ingrid Betancourt?). Well two of them (Stéphane Taponier et Hervé Ghesquière) have just been freed today after 547 days in Afghanistan, among the Talibans. I took this photo in September 2010, during a demonstration to support their cause, but never used it because I did not think that adding more publicity (even though PDP is not exactly CNN LOL!) would help. Now I'm glad to use it!
June 30, 2011 12:10:00 AM GMT+02:00
That is terrific news! And a marvelous photograph. I am happy for them and for France.
June 30, 2011 12:36:00 AM GMT+02:00
Amazing, Amazing, Amazing!!!!
I watch france2 news whenever I get the chance and each day pondered over whether these men would be released. It's brilliant that the day has finally come. There plight was never made public in Australia.
I can't wait now to watch the news to see how the French have celebrated.
I can't believe how elated I am!
June 30, 2011 12:40:00 AM GMT+02:00
Each day at the end of each news program on the second and the third French TV channel, it was said and recalled the number of days that the two journalists were kept in captivity (so we not to forget them). And now they are free! I can imagine the relief of their family and their own pleasure of course. All things they will be able to do now freely... Your tribute is nice Eric and I don't forget you are a journalist. You may have felt even more concerned learning their freeing... All my thoughts to them and their family.
June 30, 2011 12:57:00 AM GMT+02:00
Rejoicing at their freedom and so happy for them, their families and friends.
-Kim
June 30, 2011 1:05:00 AM GMT+02:00
Very appropriate tribute to celebrate the release of the French journalists held in Afghanistan for 542 days. Glad you saved the picture and shared it with us today. Wish them both and their family a happy reunion and thank God for freedom.
June 30, 2011 1:17:00 AM GMT+02:00
I hope they are relatively healthy. I fear they suffered abuse during their captivity. Now the next chapter in their lives begins. I wish them well.
June 30, 2011 1:43:00 AM GMT+02:00
I have just finished watching the extended coverage on Le Journal and comme d'habitude I came to see what you are sharing with us to day ...and was thinking .. I wonder if Eric will be sharing his thoughts about this with us today ... and voilà .. you have posted this photo. Merci Merci Merci We have a lot to be grateful for today... I am so pleased for their families that they have finally been released.
June 30, 2011 2:28:00 AM GMT+02:00
That is wonderful news! That is an incredible amount of time to be in captivity - what a relief for them and their families. I have Ingrid Betamcourt's book, but have not read it yet.
June 30, 2011 3:30:00 AM GMT+02:00
Very good news indeed! I am so happy for them, France and their family.
June 30, 2011 3:57:00 AM GMT+02:00
Great news that they have been released!
June 30, 2011 4:13:00 AM GMT+02:00
Yes, this IS very good news. I hope they return in good physical and emotional shape.
June 30, 2011 6:43:00 AM GMT+02:00
Great news. And for me, you are the CNN of the European CDP blogs! I get my news from you!
June 30, 2011 8:11:00 AM GMT+02:00
Hallelujah! I am just thrilled for them, their friends and family...and for France! Thank you for this tribute photo, Eric....Good news indeed!!!
June 30, 2011 8:27:00 AM GMT+02:00
This is such an very important news you have to shared here. The Photograph tooks the Great Effort for Easily Understand.
June 30, 2011 11:41:00 AM GMT+02:00
Tout est bien qui finit bien. Une belle histoire qui avait mal commencé et a révélé des comportements peu reluisants.
June 30, 2011 11:55:00 AM GMT+02:00
Terror should finish. Freedom should be our main matter of happiness.
Regards
Valery
Barcelona Daily Photo
June 30, 2011 12:01:00 PM GMT+02:00
WOOOOOOOW I have listened to Hervé Ghesquière words, said this morning at the Villacoublay Airport and so happy I have. I love the way he expressed himself very precisely between need of speech and emotion.
All hopes seem to exist when you are strong in your head and simply intelligent. Listening to them made me feel both moved and proud sharing this moment (on TV, of course). I felt close to him and Stéphane Taponier. Not to forget the full respect towards their relationship during this hard experience. Sharing a human intelligence is the best gift I could be given. A sensitive intelligence I mean (with the eyes, the ears, the heart, the nose, the mouth and the hands of course). All hopes should be kept to meet more and more people like them or even just one.
Thank you for this tribute, Eric. I remember very well the photo you posted, here, taken from the grids of Jardin du Luxembourg, a long time ago... Signatures around the photos of the hostagess Hervé Ghesquière and Stéphane Taponier were left on a big sign. That seems so old to me... Almost incredible. That IS so big for them to be free... So desirable.
June 30, 2011 12:20:00 PM GMT+02:00
I am very happy for their release and very happy for their families... such celebrations tonight I'm sure!
June 30, 2011 12:37:00 PM GMT+02:00
What a happy day for these men and their families! I can't imagine being held for close to 2 years by someone against my will. I hope that this next chapter of their lives and this transition goes smoothly. Thank you for sharing such joy, Eric!
June 30, 2011 3:10:00 PM GMT+02:00
I'm so thrilled that these two men have been released. I saw this on the new this afternoon in Australia. I also watch the French 2 news that is broadcast in Australia, and despaired each time the count was higher. So wonderful to have such sudden unexpectedly good news.
June 30, 2011 6:05:00 PM GMT+02:00
Thanks everyone, I'm glad you share our satisfaction to see them back - I now that we are not the only people with hostage problems though...
@Flore " I remember very well the photo you posted, here, taken from the grids of Jardin du Luxembourg, a long time ago..." You're right, shame on me I forgot about that!
June 30, 2011 6:45:00 PM GMT+02:00
So happy for them and their families! Glad you took this photo and hung onto it, Eric—and btw, I get lots of my French news from you.
June 30, 2011 7:10:00 PM GMT+02:00
@ Eric : Not a shame, not a shame at all... In fact, it was about one year ago, on the 3rd of July, 2010.
http://www.parisdailyphoto.com/2010/07/power-of-signature.html including a link towards a broader view.
I still don't know how to make beautiful links as you do... That's something I may be shame of... ;)
July 14, 2011 11:47:00 PM GMT+02:00
great site, keep it up the good work.