DATE=4/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248044
TITLE=COLOMBIA/PLANE-ALTERNATE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
*INTRO: COLOMBIA'S RED CROSS IS CALLING FOR THE RELEASE OF 46
PEOPLE KIDNAPPED MYSTERIOUSLY MONDAY FROM A HIJACKED COMMERCIAL
AIRCRAFT. WE HAVE DETAILS FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN OUR
SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU.
TEXT: THE COLOMBIAN RED CROSS HAS MADE A HUMANITARIAN APPEAL OVER
THE RADIO TO THE UNKNOWN KIDNAPPERS TO FREE THE 46 PEOPLE,
INCLUDING A THREE-MONTH-OLD BABY AND A 72-YEAR-OLD COUPLE IN POOR
HEALTH.
NO GROUP HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HIJACK-KIDNAPPING.
THE COLOMBIAN RADIO NETWORK R-C-N SAYS IT WAS APPARENTLY CARRIED
OUT BY LEFTIST GUERRILLAS OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY.
HEAVY RAIN HAS HAMPERED THE SEARCH BY LAND, AIR, AND RIVER FOR
THE CAPTURED PASSENGERS AND CREW MEMBERS. THEY WERE LAST SEEN
BOARDING LAUNCHES AT GUNPOINT ON THE MAGDALENA RIVER, NEAR WHERE
THE COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT OF AVIANCA AIRLINES WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN
UNSCHEDULED STOP DURING A FLIGHT TO BOGOTA FROM THE NORTHEASTERN
CITY OF BUCARAMANGA.
THE KIDNAP VICTIMS INCLUDE A CONGRESSMAN, A MAYOR, AND A GAS
COMPANY EXECUTIVE. MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE COLOMBIANS, BUT THERE
ARE ALSO
CITIZENS FROM THE UNITED STATES, HUNGARY, ITALY, AND ECUADOR. THE
ECUADORIAN IS JOSEFINA BUNAY MENOSCAL, A NUN WHO IS CELEBRATING
HER 41ST BIRTHDAY IN CAPTIVITY. SHE WAS ON HER WAY BACK TO
ECUADOR AFTER COMPLETING A SEVEN-YEAR HUMANITARIAN MISSION IN
COLOMBIA.
KIDNAPPINGS ARE COMMON IN COLOMBIA, AND THERE HAVE BEEN
OCCASIONAL HIJACKINGS OF AIRCRAFT, BUT FORMER GUERRILLA LEADER
ANTONIO NAVARRO WOLFF SAYS THE TWO CRIMES HAVE NEVER BEFORE BEEN
COMBINED. (SIGNED)
NEB/GM/WFR
13-Apr-99 7:54 PM EDT (2354 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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