Sjaak Rijke: liberation was frantic and anxious – AD.nl

By: editors
9-4-15 – 17:46

Freed Woerd to do story in statement

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Sjaak Rijke, who for over three years by terrorists was detained in Mali, calls his liberation very hectic and anxious. ,, But I live and am free. ” This he said in a statement today was distributed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Statement Sjaak Rijke

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© AFP .

I do not know how much longer I still had sustained

Sjaak Rijke

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Rich calls the past few years in captivity difficult, both physically and mentally. ,, Life in the desert is heavy, food is often scarce and therefore unilaterally. I can no longer see pasta being. ”

Outside ,, sleeping in the sand, sitting in the sand. I am no longer the youngest, which provides stiff limbs. I tried as much as possible to keep my body in shape by gym with improvised attributes and sports. The conditions, including in certain seasons of the year the extreme heat, showed that not always allow. Although I’ve lost a few pounds, so I’m reasonably fit come from the battle, “added Rich.

Hope
Mentally, it became harder for the Woerd to . The hope of a good outcome decreased more and more. ,, I do not know how much longer I had sustained it yet. ”

Earlier this week, however Rich liberated by French commandos. The train driver was in November 2011 kidnapped while he was on vacation with his wife in Timbuktu. His wife knew at that time to escape the armed kidnappers.

Do not like party
The train driver from Woerden plans to resume his normal life in the Netherlands again. The thoughts of reuniting with family, friends and colleagues kept the leg in Netherlands Hebbe Rich mentally. ,, I see in many television clips that home is greatly sympathized and that there is a great need to see me again ”

Rich concludes his statement with a call:. ,, I request all media explicitly not to contact me, my family and friends. ” He would like to provisionally first time with his loved ones to fully relax and prefer not festive welcome. ,, At a later date he will explain to friends and why. We hope they will respect it, “said Mayor Victor Molkenboer Woerden earlier about it.

Read about the abduction and liberation of Sjaak Rijke in our file.

Declaration of Sjaak Rijke © Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

© epa.