Editor's appeals: Full texts

Daniel Pearl is being held by a little-known group

The full texts of appeals from Wall Street Journal managing editor Paul Steiger to the captors of American journalist Daniel Pearl:

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Monday 4 February

I have not heard from you for several days and want to begin a dialogue that will address your concerns and bring about Danny's safe release.

Since your last e-mail I have received numerous e-mails from people who claim that they are holding Danny.

Because of these claims, it has become difficult for me to know that I am communicating with the people holding Danny.

I suggest you use the e-mail account or private telephone number of one of two friends of Danny, both best man at his wedding.

This line of communication would show me that Danny is with you and would allow us one-to-one contact.

We are eager to hear from you soon.

Paul Steiger Managing Editor

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Saturday 2 February

Based on reports from Pakistan, we now believe that both of the messages received yesterday about Danny were false. We continue to believe that Danny is alive.

Yet we have not heard from Danny's captors in two or three days. We think they believe that Danny is a journalist - nothing more or less.

We remain eager to continue communication that will lead to Danny's release. That dialogue can be public or private.

We hope they realise that Danny can also explain what they want to tell the world. When they release Danny, he can share that message.

We urge them to release Danny. If that is not possible, we call on them to demonstrate that Danny remains alive.

They can do this by providing us with a photo of Danny holding today's newspaper.

We remain eager to continue communication that will lead to Danny's release. That dialogue can be public or private. It can be direct or through a trusted intermediary.

We should now resume that dialogue.

Paul Steiger Managing Editor

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Wednesday 30 January

I hope that the messages I have conveyed to you have convinced you that no good of any kind will result from your execution of Danny Pearl.

I also hope that you have heard the heartfelt appeals made by his pregnant wife.

She stated that in order for different cultures to understand one another there must be dialogue.

I propose that you view Danny as a messenger. I recommend that you provide Danny a detailed list of the issues and grievances that are important to you

She has tried to help you understand that as a journalist in Pakistan, Danny can serve to promote useful dialogue so that we can better understand one another.

In this life, there are things that we can change and things that we cannot. Neither Danny nor I can change the actions of governments.

What we can change is the understanding of each other's cultures and perspectives. We can improve that understanding.

Your messages contain language that reflects your unhappiness with the American Government's misunderstanding of your views.

This is clearly very important to you. I believe that Danny can truly play a positive role in helping bridge that gap of misunderstanding.

I propose that you view Danny as a messenger.

I recommend that you provide Danny a detailed list of the issues and grievances that are important to you.

Killing Danny will achieve nothing for you. His murder would be condemned by the entire world

I further recommend that you carefully explain your ideas and beliefs so that he fully understands them and can articulate them to others.

With this information, Danny can appear before the world when released and can provide your group with the unique and unprecedented opportunity to tell the entire world your point of view.

There could be no better way to have your beliefs and your concerns listened to throughout the globe.

I hope that you will give this proposal very serious consideration.

Killing Danny will achieve nothing for you. His murder would be condemned by the entire world, and your group would be viewed as murderers without serious political objectives.

Only through Danny's safe release can your group have the opportunity to tell your side of the story and to have the entire world focus on your words.

You have a story to tell, my paper can cover that story, and Danny can tell that story better than anyone else.

Danny's safe release is a small price to pay for you to realise this goal.

Paul Steiger Managing Editor