Symbols of hope

The Mayor of Blackburn, Coun Mary Leaver, will release the symbol of freedom as Paul's parents join former-Beirut hostages Terry Waite and John McCarthy for the launch of the Hostages In Kashmir Campaign at the House of Commons.

Terry Waite, who was held captive for five years, is patron of the campaign charity, to be given its national launch tomorrow, 500 days after Paul, 25, and four other Westerners including Middlebrough man Keith Mangan, were kidnapped.

Relatives of all the hostages have vowed to fight for information about the men, despite indications that they may be dead.

Coun Leaver has written to Paul's family and the campaign group offering her support, and to Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind, to urge action. In an open letter to Mr Rifkind she writes: "In my opinion this situation has been allowed to drag on for too long and Bob and Dianne Wells, Paul's parents, and the families of the other hostages have suffered enough.

"As a mother myself I am backing their campaign and on Thursday, November 14, the 500 day anniversary of the hostages' abduction, I will be releasing balloons outside Blackburn Town Hall as a symbol of freedom.

"I feel it is time that a firm stance was taken by this Government in a bid to secure the freedom of these men so that they may be returned to their loved ones before Christmas."

In the letter to the Hostages In Kashmir Campaign, set up by Keith Mangan's wife Julie, she adds: "Hopefully people the world over will be able to bring pressure on the Kashmiri Government to force the rebels to reveal the whereabouts of the four hostages."

The balloon launch will take place at 10am.

The Hostages In Kashmir Campaign can be contacted at Indepence House, Borough Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 2ES. Telephone 01642 339091.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.