Jean Paul Getty was an American billionaire who in 1973 suffered the kidnapping of one of his grandchildren, John Paul Getty III, Getty refused to pay the ransom demand, to Although the kidnappers sent a grandchild's ear as a warning, citing two reasons, first, that was thirteen grandchildren and, if paid by this jeopardized the safety of others to be an invitation to his abduction, and second, because was willing to assist in the financing of terrorism outside of the type it out. The story was somewhat longer than described in the preceding but basically it's told.
In 1997, the councilman Miguel Angel Blanco, was kidnapped and murdered by ETA in refusing the government headed by Mr Aznar to accept the demands of the terrorist group.
In November 2009, was hijacked by Somali pirates Alakrana fishing. In this case the government of Mr. Rodriguez paid the ransom and sailors of the fishing boat were released.
this summer were kidnapped three volunteers from an NGO adjectival herself as "Catalan " for the terrorist organization Al Qaeda and, after payment by the English state a large ransom, were released.
From the above examples it appears that, if you have access to the demands of terrorists obtain the salvation of his victims, but unfortunately, experience throughout the world, shows that not always the case, and in multiple Sometimes they appear dead, yet having paid the ransom. Spain has enough experience with it.
In any case, as Jean Paul Getty said, if we accept the blackmail of any kind of fanaticism and terrorist access to their demands, all I get is that these criminals in view of his success try again with another citizen of that country or even the same family. Al Qaeda already knows very well that Spain is where you pay and we will know sooner or later again.
The payment of a ransom for the life of English citizens should not rest with the President in office, but a consensus of state policy and that policy is clear to me however painful whatever ... Spain, like many other Western countries should not accept blackmail ever.
Finally, surprised us all too experienced in dealing with terrorism, we do not have a law that defines a policy in this regard is now time to write .