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CNN Live At Daybreak

Interview of John Mercer

Aired November 13, 2001 - 08:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're back at about 20 minutes before the hour. We have been reporting all morning long that the Northern Alliance has moved into Kabul and we have learned that Taliban officials have allegedly taken with them 8 foreign aid workers who had been held on charges of acting against Islam.

One of those being held was 24-year-old Heather Mercer. She has been held since August, accused of trying to spread Christianity. We are joined by her father, John Mercy -- Mercer, excuse me -- who has been standing by in Islamabad, trying to maintain some kind of contact with his daughter over the last several months. Mr. Mercer, thank you very much for being with us.

JOHN MERCER, FATHER OF DETAINED AID WORKER: Good morning, Paula. Thank you for having me.

ZAHN: Can you confirm for us that these reports are true? Is it your understanding that your daughter has been asked to flee with the Taliban as they head south?

MERCER: I can't confirm it because I didn't see it, but I was told this morning from a journalist from Kabul who telephoned me that she visited the prison this morning and was told by the guards that between 6:30 last night and midnight, they were taken away with little notice, put in a van, and they said they were taking them to Kandahar. I visited the Taliban embassy this morning, and while they did not come out and say "yes, they are in Kandahar," they led me to believe that's where they were.

ZAHN: When is the last contact you had with your daughter?

MERCER: The last letter that I received from Heather was on 4 November. That was the day it was written. I received the letter a few days ago.

ZAHN: And what did she express to you in that letter?

MERCER: Well, basically she started the letter off saying that they were preparing a nice meal for Dana Curry, whose birthday it was on the 4th. She expressed disappointment and dismay that their lawyer, Atif Ali Khan from Peshawar, had not been back in about 3 weeks. They wanted him back there very badly. She talked about making up songs about their eventual freedom and release, and in general, it was daughter-parent talk about the -- you know, she loved her mother and myself, and missed us and wanted to be free very soon.

ZAHN: Did she express to you, either through that letter or conversations they she had with the person that went to jail to visit her earlier today, any concerns about the ongoing war and how it might affect her personal safety?

MERCER: Well, I think initially when the bombing started, for a couple of 3 weeks, they were very concerned because a number of the bombs were very close to their prison. In fact one of them was so close it blew their door open, but I think over the past few days it had been relatively quiet in Kabul proper, and I think, emotionally, they had all come to develop a sense of resignation they were in for the long haul and they -- they were doing okay emotionally, but they certainly did want to get out of there as soon as they could.

ZAHN: Is this your worst fear, and has this been your concern all along that if the Northern Alliance came into Kabul that in some way your daughter might be used by the Taliban?

MERCER: Well, of course, that is always an option, that they're holding them for some sort of leverage later on in this situation. There's also another scenario that possibly the Taliban want to show that they still have a viable government in Kandahar and they can plan to continue their trial there. That may be a little bit far out there, but it is still a possibility.

Um, no my greatest fear has not yet been realized, and I just hope for the best.

ZAHN: And are you optimistic at this point, or pessimistic?

MERCER: Well, I think I maintain my -- my same hopefulness. I'm not optimistic nor pessimistic. I think over the past month I developed sort of a flat-line emotional state, trying not to get too high or too low because it just, it's really a heavy toll to do that, so I'm still hopeful that the Taliban will take care of them, and that eventually they're going to be released safely, all of them.

ZAHN: Well, I'll tell you one thing, the commitment and tenacity you have shown is certainly reflects the great respect and praise you have for your own daughter.

MERCER: Well, she's a wonderful girl, and I'm going to hang in here as long as it takes.

ZAHN: And I want you to know there is also great hope in this country of yours that your daughter and the seven others will ultimately be returned and come home safely.

MERCER: Well, thank you very much. Everybody in the States that's been praying for them, it's meant a great deal to them and to us, and I thank all of Heather's friends and colleagues and family in the States. Thank you, Paula.

ZAHN: John Mercer, thank you very much for coming to us at such a difficult time of your family's life. Good luck. MERCER: Thank you very much.

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