Amanda Lindhout and mom share a painful phone call from captivity

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CBC – The Current | Toronto | May 2, 2016 – Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout was kidnapped in Somalia in 2008, and held captive for 15 months.

CBC – The Current

Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout and Australian photographer Nigel Brennan in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, November 26, 2009. A day after they were freed from kidnappers who held them for 15 months. ((Government of Somalia/Reuters))

For the first 10 1/2 months after Amanda was kidnapped, her mother, Lorinda Stewart lived in a covert location in training with 24 of the country’s top negotiators. Every call the kidnappers made was recorded and she knew everything she said the kidnappers were taking in.

‘Amanda, we’ve been selling everything. We’ve been begging people every day. I write letters and I make phone calls to beg people to help us. It is illegal in Canada to raise a ransom, Amanda. I could go to jail, so I’m trying to do it so that the government doesn’t know because if I go to jail I can’t help you.’– Lorinda Stewart speaking with her daughter, Amanda Lindhout in captivity

The Sylvan Lake Operational Center where Amanda Lindhout's mother, Lorinda Stewart, took calls from the kidnappers. Ali Omar Ader aka Adam, is currently awaiting trial after his arrest last year. (John Lindhout) — The Sylvan Lake Operational Center where Amanda Lindhout’s mother, Lorinda Stewart, took calls from the kidnappers. Ali Omar Ader aka Adam, is currently awaiting trial after his arrest last year. (John Lindhout)

There were many horrible calls, but the one both Amanda and Lorinda remember as the “worst call” happened 10 months after the kidnapping when an anguished daughter in captivity begged her mom for the $1 million ransom her kidnappers demanded.

Lorinda's poster includes days held in captivity, days since last proof of life, and days since her last conversation with hostage takers. The number in the corner (60) represents how many days since Lorinda had last spoke to her Amanda. (John Lindhout) — Lorinda’s poster includes days held in captivity, days since last proof of life, and days since her last conversation with hostage takers. The number in the corner (60) represents how many days since Lorinda had last spoke to her Amanda. (John Lindhout)

It’s an almost unthinkably, difficult situation.

Last week, Islamic militants in the Phillipines killed Canadian hostage John Ridsdel, after their ransom demands were unmet. Another Canadian kidnapped with Ridsdel — Robert Hall — remains captive.

But Canada does not pay ransom to terrorists. It’s a position that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau firmly reiterated but one that, at times such as these, demands discussion.

Amanda Lindhout and her mother, Lorinda Stewart, joined Anna Maria Tremonti from Calgary to talk about the demand for ransom, the government’s refusal to pay, the RCMP’s involvement and how the haunting “worst call” illustrates the emotional toll a kidnapping takes on those back home.

The man they knew as Adam — a Somali citizen — who made the calls, will go on trial in Canada next year, accused of Amanda Lindhout’s kidnapping.

The Current asked the RCMP to comment. They responded that since the matter is before the courts, it would be inappropriate for the RCMP to comment at this time.

This segment was produced by The Current’s Willow Smith.

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