Kjartan Sekkingstad tells of a terrible year beeing taken hostage by Abu Sayyaf guerrillas in the Philippines. The toughest was to find that his two inmates John Ridsel and Robert Hall whad been beheaded.
Thin and clearly battered ,Kjartan Sekkingstad (56) met international and Norwegian press on Sunday, after one year as a hostage in the jungle by the Islamist guerrilla group.
During a joint press conference with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City , the Sotra man expressed his great gratitude to all who have helped to get him out of captivity.
– Thanks to everyone who made this possible. I am very happy to be alive and free. It’s an amazing feeling, said Sekkingstad.
Threatened
Sekkingstad was abducted from the vacation place Ocean View Resort on the island of Samal night until 22 September 2015, together with the two Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall and Halls Filipino girlfriend Marites Flor.
Ridsel and Hall were beheaded in April and June after ransom demands were not met.
Sekkingstad told VG that the liquidation of the two friends and fellow prisoners were the worst single incidents he experienced during his imprisonment.
He described to news agency AFP that liquid rings is used as psychological torture. Although the two Canadians were taken away, the beheading was carried out so close that he could hear their screams.
– It was cruel, Sekkingstad said clearly.
He was constantly threatened that he was next in line.
– There is really no way to describe how it is. Either you survive or you’ll go mad, he stated to VG.
President Duterte sat beside Sekkingstad when they met the press.
Solberg: – A happy day for Norway
Sekkingstad family happy about his release
Abu Sayyaf has released Sekkingstad
Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today
