An emotional plea from Rinko, the wife of freelance journalist Kenji Goto, as deadline for his release approaches.
I became aware that Kenji was in trouble on 2 December when I received an email from the group holding Kenji.
On 20 January I saw the video demand for $200m for the lives of Haruna Yukawa and Kenji. Since then, there have been several emails between the group and me as I have fought to save his life.
In the past 20 hours the kidnappers have sent me what appears to be their latest and final demand:
Rinko,
YOU MUST PUBLICISE AND EXPOSE THIS MESSAGE TO THE WORLD MEDIA NOW! OTHERWISE KENJI WILL BE NEXT!
If Sajida is not on the Turkish border ready for the exchange for Kenji by Thursday 29th Jan at sunset, The Jordanian pilot will be executed immediately!
I fear that this is the last chance for my husband and we now have only a few hours left to secure his release and the life of Lt. Mu’ath al-Kaseasbeh. I beg the Jordanian and Japanese Government to understand that the fates of both men are in their hands.
I thank the Governments of Jordan and Japan for all their efforts. I thank the people of Jordan and Japan for their compassion. My family was based in Jordan when I was young, and I went to school in Amman until I was 12 years old, so I have great affection and fond memories of Jordan and its people.
Lastly I thank my family, friends and Kenji’s colleges for the support they have shown my daughters and me over the last 3 months.
I pray for the lives of my husband and the Jordanian pilot Lt. Mu’ath al-Kaseasbeh.
Rinko