100 days since NUJ member Alan Johnston was kidnapped in Gaza.

Wednesday 20 June will mark 100 days since NUJ member Alan Johnston was kidnapped in Gaza. 

At 14:15 BST on 20 June Alan's parents will release 100 balloons in their home village in Scotland. At the same time, Alan's colleagues across the BBC will show their support for him, his friends and his family. We are urging all NUJ members to join with them in marking this event. We are encouraging all members to pause and think of Alan for one minute at 14.15 BST.

The NUJ will also deliver letters to the new Palestinian Prime Minister as well as to the UK Foreign Secretary urging them to redouble their efforts to secure Alan's release and to the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate thanking them for their support and urging them to help keep Alan's case high on the political agenda.

Those workplaces who wish to hold a vigil for Alan can download a poster from the NUJ website at http://www.nuj.org.uk from 10am on 20 June.

For other ways to help support the campaign see www.bbc.co.uk 

Jeremy Dear, General Secretary  NUJ

4 July '07

Alan Johnston, the kidnapped BBC journalist, looking gaunt and walking stiffly, was released last night saying it was “fantastic" to be free after an “appalling" ordeal in which his life was threatened. '