DATE=10/14/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-41594
TITLE=KIDNAPPING ON THE RISE
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A LEADING INSURANCE GROUP REPORTS THAT THE NUMBER OF
KIDNAPPINGS ARE ON THE INCREASE AROUND THE WORLD. THE "HISCOM
GROUP" OF "LLOYD'S OF LONDON," WHICH SPECIALIZES IN KIDNAP AND
RANSOM INSURANCE, SAYS MOST ABDUCTIONS ARE MOTIVATED BY MONEY.
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN TALKED WITH A SPECIAL RISKS EXPERT
AT HISCOM ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS.
TEXT: THE MOST RECENT ABDUCTION (EDS: OCT 3RD) IN CHECHNYA OF
FOUR BRITISH PHONE COMPANY WORKERS IS JUST THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF
AN ALARMING TREND.
THE HISCOM INSURANCE GROUP FOUND MORE THAN 14-HUNDRED REPORTED
KIDNAPPINGS LAST YEAR ALONE -- NEARLY DOUBLE THE TOTAL FOR 1991
-- THE FIRST YEAR OF THE STUDY. THE GROUP'S SURVEY SHOWS THE
NUMBER OF ABDUCTIONS ALREADY TOPS 784 FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THIS
YEAR.
ROB DAVIES IS A SPECIAL RISKS EXPERT AT HISCOM. HE SAYS THE DAYS
OF POLITICAL KIDNAPPINGS ARE PRETTY MUCH OVER. NOW IT'S SIMPLY A
QUESTION OF MONEY.
/// DAVIES ACT ///
IT'S PARTLY CONNECTED TO THE GLOBAL RECESSION. IN THIRD
WORLD COUNTRIES YOU 'VE GOT PEOPLE BEING LAID OFF WHO
DON'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM AND
THEREFORE, WITH NO MONEY AT ALL, THEY TURN TO ALL FORMS
OF CRIME -- AND KIDNAP IS ONE OF THEM. PERHAPS THE
BIGGEST CAUSE OF ALL IS THE DRUG BUSINESS, WHERE YOU'VE
GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO RAISE CAPITAL TO GET INTO
THE DRUG BUSINESS AND KIDNAPPING IS A GOOD WAY TO DO
THAT.
/// END ACT ///
THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S REPORT SHOWS COLOMBIA HAS THE HIGHEST
NUMBER OF KIDNAPPINGS BY FAR -- MORE THAN FOUR-THOUSAND SINCE
1991.
/// SECOND DAVIES ACT ///
COLUMBIA IS REALLY THE FATHER OF KIDNAPING IN TODAY'S
WORLD. IF YOU TALK TO LOCAL COLOMBIANS WHO GIVE YOU AN
IDEA OF THE NUMBER OF THE CASES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN
REPORTED, WE MAY BE LOOKING AT AS MANY AS FOUR KIDNAPS A
DAY.
/// END ACT ///
MEXICO HAS THE SECOND WORST RECORD WITH A TOTAL OF 656
ABDUCTIONS FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS. KIDNAPPINGS IN RUSSIA AND
YEMEN LAST YEAR DOUBLED, COMPARED TO 1996 FIGURES.
ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, SOME COUNTRIES, LIKE ARGENTINA, ITALY AND
THE PHILIPPINES, HAVE SEEN A DECREASE.
//OPT// THE RASH OF FINANCIALLY-MOTIVATED KIDNAPPINGS HAS FUELED
A BOOM IN THE SECURITY BUSINESS. BUT MR. DAVIES SAYS BODYGUARDS
AND ARMORED CARS ARE NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER.
/// THIRD DAVIES ACT ///
IF YOU DON'T TREAT THEM WELL AND OFTEN YOUR FAMILY
DOESN'T, THEN THE BODYGUARDS THEMSELVES BECOME
DEMORALIZED AND WON'T DO A PARTICULARLY GOOD JOB. AND
THEY ARE VERY EASILY SUBVERTED BY KIDNAPPERS.
/// END ACT///
MR DAVIES ALSO FROWNS ON THE LATEST FAD OF IMPLANTING A
MICRO-CHIP UNDER THE SKIN TO SIGNAL POLICE THE LOCATION OF THE
KIDNAPPERS. HE SAYS MANY KIDNAPPERS WILL TRY TO REMOVE THE
CHIP, AS HE PUTS IT, "THE HARD WAY." //END OPT//
THE BEST ADVICE MR. DAVIES GIVES TO WEALTHY EXECUTIVES IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES OR AREAS OF HIGH RISK IS TO KEEP A LOW
PROFILE.
/// OPT FOURTH DAVIES ACT ///
THE BEST EXAMPLE IS A FRIEND OF MINE IN COLOMBIA WHO IS
WORTH 300-MILLION DOLLARS, DRIVING A VERY BEAT-UP OLD
CAR AND DRESSES DOWN CONSIDERABLY. HE WAS KIDNAPPED AND
THEY DROVE HIM 90 MILES (145 KM) OUTSIDE BOGOTA AND
DISCUSSED AMONG THEMSELVES IF THEY SHOULD KILL OR KIDNAP
HIM. AND THEY DECIDED HE CLEARLY DIDN'T HAVE MONEY WHEN
THEY LOOKED AT HIS CAR AND HIS CLOTHES. AND HE PERSUADED
THEM NOT TO KILL HIM AND EVEN ASKED THEM FOR SOME MONEY
TO AFFORD THE BUS RIDE BACK TO BOGOTA.
/// END OPT ACT ///
MOST GOVERNMENTS SAY "NO" TO PAYING A RANSOM TO KIDNAPPERS.
BUT MR. DAVIES DOES NOT RULE IT OUT FOR FAMILIES. WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE LIFE OF A CHILD OR A PARENT, HE SAYS, THE GOAL
IS TO GET THEM BACK SAFE AND SOUND, NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/PCF
14-Oct-98 7:03 AM EDT (1103 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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