I refer to the letters Koreans not taken by force from their homes and Blaming the Muslims again .

I am actually quite embarrassed by the line of thinking of Arbibi Ashroy and Dr Astmah on the issue of the Korean hostages. To sum it all, the aid workers were lumped together as part and parcel of the invading force and the aid workers came uninvited (as illustrated by Arbibi Ashoy ).

I am quite sure Dr Astmah took offence by the fact that these group of hostages are Christian aid workers and by that they have an ulterior motive to convert the Afghans. Astmah's letter in short says that they deserve it and if they are massacred by the Taliban, then they must have seen it coming.

I cannot agree with Astmah's line of thinking, for the whole world knows that there are quite a few religious bodies who help purely from the humanitarian point of few. Such people could not be bothered of your colour, creed or religion. When the Tsunami struck the world, Aceh was the worst hit. A group of turbaned Sikhs from Canada who called themselves the Wave of Mercy were there to render aid to the Acehnese.

I am quite sure both the writers do not know the Tzu Chi Group who were one of the first to be there in Aceh. They also were the first to be at the ancient city of Bam in Iran to render aid to the earthquake victims there. These group of volunteers come in to help and get out. There are not there to propagate their religion. They are there to render help, period. They leave quietly when their job is done.

These people ask for no publicity and they do not make a fanfare of their presence. I am quite sure the Korean aid workers were there to render aid. For goodness sake, how do you expect this group of fairly young Koreans to carry out 'dakwah' activities to the Afghans on Christianity?

The remarks made by both the writers are not only insensitive, they are insulting to these people and the religious groups they represent who have unselfishly help humankind.