FARC Claims Bombing, Kidnap

FARC Rebels Kidnapped 12 Lawmakers in Cali

On Apr. 11, as many as 30 FARC members disguised as bomb squad officers and accompanied by bomb-sniffing dogs entered the departmental legislative assembly building in Cali, capital of Valle del Cauca department, saying they were looking for explosives. The rebels then set off a low-level explosion and kidnapped 12 legislators and five aides as people ran out of the building in panic. A police agent was killed as the rebels fled with their captives in a minivan.

Hostages Urge No Drastic Action

In a call to a national radio news program, hostage Juan Carlos Narvaez, president of the Valle del Cauca assembly, urged the government not to take any drastic actions and to bargain for release of the hostages. "We, the kidnapped legislators, plead in consensus that they cease the military harassment," Narvaez said. "Make negotiation a priority for our release. Our lives are at risk." Narvaez read a FARC statement explaining that three rebel units-an urban front, a mobile unit, and the 30th Front--were behind the kidnapping. He said the legislators negotiated with the rebel commanders to release the five aides.

Army: Obligated to Rescue Hostages

Col. Carlos Arevalo, commander of the Army's anti-kidnapping squad, told reporters on Apr. 11 that the military was obligated to try to rescue the hostages, despite Narvaez's request. [Miami Herald 4/12/02; El Nuevo Herald (Miami) 4/12/02 from EFE]

RCN Journalists Fired Upon, Two Killed

Later on Apr. 11, army units attacked the FARC in the mountains near Cali in an attempt to rescue the hostages. A number of journalists came under direct fire despite pleading for the shooters to desist, taking shelter in the bushes and waving white flags. Walter Lopez, a driver for the RCN television network, died at the scene; RCN camera operator Hector Sandoval was wounded and died the next day. Reporters from Semana magazine and El Tiempo newspaper were also in the group that was fired on, according to RCN, which did not specify whether the shots came from army troops or rebels. [EFE 4/12/02] On the night of Apr. 12, unidentified assailants threw an explosive at the RCN offices in Bogota, causing damages but no injuries. [ENH 4/13/02 from AFP] From the Weekly News Update on the Americas (ISSN 1084-922X), published by the Nicaragua Solidarity Network of Greater New York, 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012, 212-674-9499, wnu@igc.org.