Kidnappings in Colombia

Kidnappings in Colombia referes 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 presidencial candidate Íngrid 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.

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. Paramilitary groups unusually asked victims for a ransom while the guerrillas use this practice to profit.

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. [http://www.paislibre.org/images/PDF/secuestroestadisticasgenerales%202006%20org.pdf] 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. [http://www.mediosparalapaz.org/?idcategoria=46]

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.

Government involvement

Colombian authorities have also been accused of practicing kidnappings in some cases. One of the most recent events occurred during the Rodrigo Granda affair, which was considered by some critics as a government-sponsored kidnapping of a FARC member in Venezuela. The government of Colombia denied being physically involved in the operation in the neighboring country, but admitted that it had paid a ransom that led to Granda's capture. Granda was apparently handed to Colombian authorities by Venezuelan agents on the border between the two countries.

Famous kidnapped victims

by drug cartels

*Diana Turbay
*Andrés Pastrana
*Francisco Santos

by FARC

"See List of political hostages held by FARC"

*Ingrid Betancourt (No longer in captivity)
*Fernando Araújo Perdomo (No longer in captivity)
*Oscar Tulio Lizcano
*Guillermo Gaviria Correa (Killed during a botched rescue attempt)
*Jorge Eduardo Gechem Turbay (No longer in captivity)
*Jhon Frank Pinchao (No longer in captivity)
*Consuelo González (No longer in captivity)
*Farc's kidnapping of 12 Valle del Cauca Deputies (11 were killed during a fight between two rebel units)
*Alan Jara

By ELN

*Ancizar López

By paramilitaries

*Piedad Cordoba (Released)

ee also

*Security issues in Colombia
*Colombian Armed Conflict
*Muerte a Secuestradores (Death to kidnappers)

External links

* [http://www.paislibre.org Fundación País Libre]
* [http://www.paislibre.org/images/PDF/secuestroestadisticasgenerales%202006%20org.pdf Detailed statistics of kidnappings in Colombia for 1996-2006]
* [http://www.claytonconsultants.com/links/KIDNAP/Clayton_KR_Newsletter_June_06.pdf K&R and Extorsion Monitor] , June 2006
* [http://www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/18415, Express Kidnapping] , May 8, 2006
* [http://www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/16500, MDE armed Robbery] , January 28, 2006
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/5041044.stm Colombia's fight to end violence] , BBC News, June 3, 2006
* [http://www.slate.com/id/2084307/entry/2084609/ Entry 4] , Silvana Paternostro, June 19, 2003
* [http://chasemeladies.blogspot.com/2004/09/express-kidnappings.html EXPRESS KIDNAPPINGS] , Sept 21, 2004
*es icon [http://www.elespectador.com/elespectador/Secciones/Detalles.aspx?idNoticia=12074&idSeccion=18 El Espectador; Timeline of kidnappings in Colombia]