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DATE=3/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246955
TITLE=COLOMBIA/VIOLENCE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RHODA METCALFE
DATELINE=BOGOTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: IN COLOMBIA, THE VIOLENCE SURROUNDING KIDNAPPINGS 
CONTINUES TO RISE.  THREE MEN -- INCLUDING A MEMBER OF COLOMBIA'S
CONGRESS -- WERE KILLED THIS WEEKEND AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO FREE A 
WOMAN HELD HOSTAGE BY LEFTIST REBELS.  AS RHODA METCALFE REPORTS 
FROM BOGOTA, A NEW WAVE OF KIDNAPPINGS IS MAKING ROAD TRAVEL IN 
COLOMBIA INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS AS REBELS SET UP ROADBLOCKS ALONG
MAJOR HIGHWAYS TO KIDNAP TRAVELLERS FOR RANSOM.
TEXT: ALEX LOPERA -- A 33-YEAR OLD COLOMBIAN CONGRESSMAN -- WAS 
FOUND SUNDAY ALONGSIDE TWO FRIENDS.  THE THREE MEN WERE ON THEIR 
WAY TO A RENDEZVOUS WITH MEMBERS OF THE LEFT-WING REBEL GROUP -- 
THE FARC.  THEY WERE CARRYING CLOSE TO 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS -- 
THE RANSOM MONEY NEEDED TO FREE A YOUNG WOMAN HELD HOSTAGE BY THE
GUERRILLAS.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE MEN WERE ATTACKED AND KILLED BEFORE EVER 
REACHING THE MEETING.  IT IS STILL UNCLEAR WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE MURDERS.  BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR -- KIDNAPPINGS ARE BECOMING 
MORE DANGEROUS AND HAPHAZARD IN COLOMBIA.
FOR YEARS, KIDNAPPING HAS BEEN A MAJOR SOURCE OF INCOME FOR THE 
COUNTRY'S TWO MAIN REBEL GROUPS.  TRADITIONALLY, KIDNAPPINGS ARE 
WELL PLANNED.  THE GUERRILLAS TARGET WEALTHY RESIDENTS AND SPEND 
MONTHS NEGOTIATING THE RANSOM.  
BUT NOW, GUERRILLAS ARE INCREASINGLY USING ROADBLOCKS -- THEY 
STOP CARS AND GRAB ANYONE WHO LOOKS LIKE THEY MIGHT HAVE MONEY.  
THE RANSOM IS NEGOTIATED WITHIN DAYS OR WEEKS.
BILL NIXON -- A SECURITY ADVISOR IN BOGOTA -- SAYS THIS NEW WAVE 
OF SHORT-TERM KIDNAPPINGS IS, IRONICALLY, A PRODUCT OF THE RECENT
PEACE TALKS BEGUN BETWEEN THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT AND REBEL 
LEADERS.  MR. NIXON SAYS MANY GUERRILLAS ARE AFRAID THAT IF PEACE
COMES -- THEY'LL BE OUT OF A JOB.
                         ///NIXON ACT///
         MANY OF THEM ARE REALIZING THEY DON'T HAVE A PENSION 
         FUND AND WHAT IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO GET A PENSION FUND?
         IT'S TO START KIDNAPPING.
                          ///END ACT///
OVER THE LAST FOUR DAYS, AT LEAST 29 PEOPLE WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE AT
REBEL ROADBLOCKS.  AND AS THE EASTER HOLIDAYS DRAW NEAR -- MANY 
COLOMBIANS ARE CHOOSING TO STAY AT HOME TO AVOID SPENDING THEIR 
VACATIONS WITH THE REBELS.  (SIGNED)
NEB/RM/WFR  
21-Mar-99 8:27 PM EST (0127 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.