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Montpellier supports Stéphane Hervé Ghesquière

Montpellier, Place de la Comedie: "304 balloons for our friends."

"Above all, do not forget them." Nacera when talking about his friends and Taponier Stéphane Hervé Ghesquière, his voice is sad. But she is not ready to despair. "For the moment, we do not know when they come home," she says. "So we need people to mobilize."

Nacera is part of the Support Committee and Stéphane Hervé . This committee is not an "official body". "We're just friends who want Herve Stephan and safe return."

That makes a dozen years that the young woman knows Stéphane Taponier whose family lives in Montpelier. "I did an internship at the time, and Stephane hosted me. Then we became very close friends." She never met Hervé Ghesquière, but is confident that soon he too will be his friend. "I will make his knowledge when they return." And they return, this is no doubt for her.

Two balls for two friends

The Day the city of Montpellier has launched 304 blue balloons, each balloon a symbol for a day of captivity, he was about to remind you Montpellier always thinking of their friends. "The mayor of Montpellier in France was the first to display their portraits," informs Nacera. During the first three months, nobody had the right to publish the names of the two hostages - "but as soon as possible, Montpellier has made known their names."

The worst, say other friends and Taponier Stéphane Hervé Ghesquière, is that nobody knows what really happened. The two journalists were on assignment in Afghanistan, accompanied by three Afghans for the magazine "Exhibits" France 3. On 29 December 2009, they were abducted by a group armed Taliban. Claim: the release of Taliban prisoners cons of both the French and their escorts.

A Gentleman in his fifties is for people around him. "Some reporters for 'Exhibit', it leaves thinking. Who says they have not discovered something that governments prefer to hide? We know that French soldiers in Afghanistan, and we know that it does not reveal the true number of deaths. And, in fact, that Sarkozy is to free the hostages? " Nobody replied.

Meanwhile, the "support committee and Herve Stephan" can only hope. "In Montpellier, we are thirty friends who continue to meet to talk about both." It is told of scenes that are either lived with journalists, exchange memories, friends Stéphane Taponier talk about him to others, and those of Hervé Ghesquière present it to those who do not know yet. "I've heard so much of Hervé" Nacera said, "I feel I have met him long ago."

"Waiting is difficult," seeing the members of which also Taponier Thierry's brother, Stephen, is a part. But as long as they are not alone, the wait is a little lighter. And Montpellier, they are surrounded. "In Paris, there is also action in Lille ..." When releasing the balloons 304th day of captivity of the two journalists, not just the mayor of Montpellier, Helen Mandroux, has assured its support. There was also the President of the Chamber of Commerce, the press club, the "reporters without borders," the Bar ... "They will release them!" Murmured a woman while her eyes follow the ball, and we understand she is talking to someone who is away from her. Then she bends over a boy: "Look at the balloons, they are not beautiful?

Photos and text are copyright Doris Kneller

Copyright: Kneller Doris, 2009