Israelis held for ransom in Caribbean

Twelve Israelis working as contractors on isolated island being held by 300 Chinese workers, who are demanding compensation after US bank failure puts halt on project

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3609667,00.html

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"Twelve Israelis are being held in the Turks and Caicos Island chain in the Caribbean by 300 Chinese workers, Ynet learned Thursday.

The Israelis, who are being held on West Caicos, were on the islands working for Ashtrom Engineering and Construction, an Israeli building company responsible for a large tourist project.

An Israeli working in the area told Ynet that the Israelis were taken hostage after the project was canceled, due to bank collapse. The Chinese workers, who were informed they would be deported, are holding the Israelis for ransom to pay back the cost of their trip from China to the Caribbean, as well as to cover the equivalent of wages.

West Caicos, an isolated island accessible only via a 40-minute boat ride from the central island in the archipelago, has no police or security forces, making it easy for the Chinese workers, who have taken control of the single marina, to hold the Israelis against their will."

and the workers refused to be "deported" unpaid. perhaps if they had not been such dicks they would not have this problem.

Foreign Affairs Ministry confirms that several of the Israeli nationals being held by disgruntled Chinese laborers on isolated Caribbean island freed thanks to negotiations with local law enforcement

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3609812,00.html

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"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Thursday evening that the majority of the Israelis held hostage by Chinese laborers on West Caicos, several more remain on the small isolated island.

At present time it remains unclear how many Israelis were on the island, with some of the reports putting the number at 12 and others at 13.

The hostages were freed following several hours of negotiations between the hostage-takers and local police. Israeli and British diplomats stationed in the Caribbean began working towards resolving the crisis after news of the developing situation was first reported by Ynet in the early afternoon.

One of the 'captive' Israelis spoke with Ynet after his release: "Right now there are six Israelis trapped in a room with the Chinese – and the other six, myself among them, are sitting here in a stationary boat in the marina. There are guys form an unarmed security firm here, and 10 more armed men who are making sure the Chinese don't get to where we are. We're waiting for the other Israelis to be let go so we can leave. The authorities are trying to negotiate with (the Chinese) and get them what they want."

Israel's ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Amos Radian, spoke with Ynet following their release: "In all there were over 10 Israelis on the island, along with four Romanians and three Indians. In all 14 people were let go and six remained. Most of the Israelis were released."

The ambassador said that the negotiations were conducted by local law enforcement officials and a security firm. "To the best of my knowledge some of the payments have already been transferred to them. The authorities here have assured me that none of the hostages are in danger. I believe that in the coming hours the other six will also be released."

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"The Israeli construction company Ashtrom announced on Saturday that its remaining employees being held against their will by disgruntled Chinese workers on the Caribbean island of Turks and Caicos have been freed.

Ashtrom had agreed to pay wages due to Chinese workers building a luxury resort, in return for the release of the remaining managers and engineers that had been allegedly held against their will since Monday, the Turks and Caicos Islands government said on Friday.

"Police had access to them. There was no hostage situation," Turks and Caicos Deputy Police Commissioner Hubert Hughes told The Associated Press on Friday. "There were no injuries or weapons."

"Nine Israelis left West Caicos late Thursday and four remain," Hughes said."

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