Windsor Star, Canada
Dec 20 2008
Ont. woman feared missing in China
Canwest News Service
Published: Saturday, December 20, 2008
WINDSOR, Ont. — The loved ones of a former Windsor woman are worried
about her well-being after they lost all contact with her while she
was travelling in China.
According to family members, 30-year-old Ani Ashekian’s last
communication with them was on Nov. 10, when she was in Hong Kong and
sent a text message wishing her two-year-old niece a happy
birthday. There’s been no word from her since then – a silence of more
than five weeks.
"She normally calls," said Rosie Kampstra, Ashekian’s older
sister. "She normally calls or sends an e-mail or does something."
Most troubling to Kampstra is that there hasn’t been any activity on
Ashekian’s credit card since Nov. 10. Kampstra said the credit card is
Ashekian’s only source of money when travelling.
Foreign Affairs Canada has been made aware of the situation. Consular
officials are speaking with Hong Kong authorities, who are
investigating Ashekian’s disappearance as a missing person case.
Kampstra said her younger sister is an experienced traveller. Ashekian
had previously taken solo trips to South America, Europe, the
Caribbean and Costa Rica.
In October, Ashekian decided to take her first trip to the Far
East. She left for Beijing on Oct. 24 and was scheduled for a return
flight from Delhi, India, on Dec. 15.
She did not board the return flight.
Kampstra said Foreign Affairs Canada told her Ashekian’s passport
records show Ashekian arrived in Hong Kong on Nov. 9. Her last credit
card activity occurred the next day, taking two cash advances in Hong
Kong currency.
Windsor Star
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