Kidnappings in Colombia
Kidnappings in Colombia refers to the practice of kidnapping in the Republic of Colombia. This criminal practice was first introduced in modern Colombian history during the early 1970s by the guerrilla movements and, later, also by criminal groups. With the release of Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt on July 2, 2008 this practice gained worldwide notoriety.
Guerrilla groups like the M-19, the FARC, ELN among others widely exploited this practice. To counter these paramilitary groups also adopted this method to intimidate adversaries. Drug cartels like the Medellín Cartel also used this practice to intimidate politicians who were trying to approve in congress an extradition treaty with the United States, and also used in drug cartel wars. Regular criminal organizations also kidnap and sell persons of interest to guerrilla groups.
Contents
Extent
By July 2005, the FARC alone had an estimated 2500 kidnapped civilians, without including the number of military servicemen or government officials. The paramilitary groups were estimated to have kidnapped 500 people between 1996 and 2004. Guerrilla organizations typically demand a ransom, while Paramilitary groups generally use the practice as a means of terror or coercion.
Since the 1970s kidnappings in Colombia gradually increased until 2001. In the year 2000 alone the number of kidnapped people in Colombia rose to 3572. This number declined steadily in the following years, reaching 687 kidnappings in 2006.[1] The statistics for 2009 (Jan.-Oct.) [from Colombia Police] indicated it had fallen to 172. Despite this sizable reduction in the number of kidnappings after 2001, the number of victims continue to be one of the highest in the world.[2]
In 2010 the amount of kidnappings increased to 282.[3] The surge in kidnappings in 2010 and 2011 is attributed to criminal groups like Los Rastrojos and guerrillas.
Other forms of kidnapping
Following the guerrilla's example, criminal organizations mostly based in large cities began to practice Express kidnappings (secuestros express), colloquially named "Millionaire tours" (Paseo Millionario). Victims are boarded in places with little police presence or where they are most vulnerable. Most commonly these are performed after victims withdraw money from ATMs or while riding in fake, terrorist-operated taxi cabs.
Famous kidnapped victims
by drug cartels
- Diana Turbay (Killed during a botched rescue attempt)
- Andrés Pastrana (Rescued)
- Francisco Santos (Released)
by FARC
See List of political hostages held by FARC
- Ingrid Betancourt (Rescued)
- Fernando Araújo Perdomo (Escaped)
- Oscar Tulio Lizcano (Escaped)
- Guillermo Gaviria Correa (Killed during a botched rescue attempt)
- Jhon Frank Pinchao (Escaped)
- Consuelo González (Released)
- Farc's kidnapping of 12 Valle del Cauca Deputies (11 were killed during a fight between two rebel units. The only survivor was freed in February 2009)
- Alan Jara (Released)
- Keith Stansell (Rescued)
- Marc Gonsalves (Rescued)
- Thomas Howes (Rescued)
- Luis Francisco Cuellar (Killed in captivity)
- Thomas Hargrove (Released; ordeal fictionalized in the 2001 movie Proof of Life)
- Russell Stendal
By ELN
- Ancizar López (Died in captivity)
By paramilitaries
- Piedad Cordoba (Released)
See also
- Security issues in Colombia
- Colombian Armed Conflict
- Muerte a Secuestradores (Death to kidnappers)
General:
References
External links
- Fundación País Libre
- Detailed statistics of kidnappings in Colombia for 1996-2006
- K&R and Extorsion Monitor, June 2006
- Express Kidnapping, May 8, 2006
- MDE armed Robbery, January 28, 2006
- Colombia's fight to end violence, BBC News, June 3, 2006
- Entry 4, Silvana Paternostro, June 19, 2003
- EXPRESS KIDNAPPINGS, Sept 21, 2004
- (Spanish) El Espectador; Timeline of kidnappings in Colombia
