Working for the Release of ES Employees Held in Columbia (FReeper's Co-Workers)

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems ^ | 2/3/2004 | subterfuge

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Working for the Release of ES Employees Held in Colombia

Though one of the most beautiful places on earth, modern-day Colombia is also one of the most dangerous.

On February 13th, four California Microwave Systems employees flying a mission for the U.S. Southern Command crashed in the Colombian jungle, not far from a stronghold of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC), a local armed insurgent group.

The pilot, Tom Janis and Colombian Army sergeant, Luis Alcides Cruz, were murdered by the FARC, and Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves and Thomas Howes were taken prisoner.The three remain in captivity, held by the FARC deep in the Colombian jungle. Along with some fifty other Colombian citizens, they're being used as "bargaining chips" in the group's efforts to exchange them for the release of FARC members. Efforts have been underway since February to obtain their release.

Keeping Hope Alive

Obtaining their release will not be easy, however. The FARC moves the prisoners regularly and keeps them under heavy guard. They have not hesitated in the past to kill hostages when rescue operations were attempted. By law, the United States is prohibited from negotiating with terror groups like the FARC and those same restrictions prevent negotiations by private individuals or corporations. Their freedom will depend on the influence of third parties -- other governments, international agencies, and the concern and involvement of the American public in helping to bring this captivity to a fast and positive resolution.

The links below show give an idea of what has already been done by two courageous photojournalists who visited with our hostages and verified that they're still alive, and by those who have put together a "Virtual Yellow Ribbon" campaign encouraging people to contact their legislators in Congress about the plight of our employees.

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This is from the Northrop Web page created for this crisis. I don't know these guys personally, as Keith, Marc and Thomas work at another division. The corporation (my division is in Orlando) is passing out Yellow Ribbon pins bearing the mens' names which has little if any effect in helping to end the hostage situation unless people get involved. That is what I'm trying to do. Go to the web address above for much more info including an e-mail box for messages to the captive's families.

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What Happened


On Feb. 13, 2003, four employees of Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems business unit, California Microwave Systems, Thomas Howes, Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves, and pilot Thomas Janis were on board an aircraft, together with Colombian Army Sergeant Luis Alcides Cruz, performing a counter narcotics mission over the jungles of Colombia under a contract in support of U.S. government operations there.

They took off from Bogota's airport at 7:30 a.m., heading for a Colombian military base in the southern Caqueta region. But 30 miles short of the landing strip, their plane crashed in a pasture in the Caquetá countryside, a FARC stronghold.

The aircraft had landed, incredibly, within hundreds of yards of FARC forces holding a secret meeting.

The FARC forces descended upon the crash site to find all five men alive. In taped recordings since received, the three surviving employees today credit pilot Tom Janis for saving their lives by successfully landing the crippled aircraft. However, moments after they were captured, the FARC led Tom Janis and the Colombian sergeant away from the crash site and executed them.

Two hours later, a group of 40 guerrillas stopped at a home about a mile away to ask for water. The rebels, a witness told prosecutors, were hauling three monos -- Colombian slang for blonds. They were healthy. Cruz and Janis were dead.

Then, just weeks later, three former California Microwave employees working for a subcontractor, were also tragically lost when their plane crashed into a mountain while searching for the three Northrop Grumman employees held captive.

Colombian army sweeps have failed to locate them. Intelligence reports maintain that the "alleged CIA agents" are being held in the jungle region of Huila, which is under the tight control of the narco guerrillas. The FARC has acknowledged holding the three "prisoners of war" and offered to trade them for imprisoned rebels. The U.S. and Colombian governments, however, both firmly maintain that our captive colleagues are hostages -- held by terrorist forces. .


The FARC forces descended upon the crash site to find all five men alive. In taped recordings since received, the three surviving employees today credit pilot Tom Janis for saving their lives by successfully landing the crippled aircraft.

However, moments after they were captured, the FARC led Tom Janis and the Colombian sergeant away from the crash site and executed them.

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Colombia's Kidnapping "Industry"


CMS Employees Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves and Tom Howes, held ransom as "bargaining chips" by FARC forces


It's estimated that a third of all the world's abductions occur in Colombia. One in three. Some 3,000 a year. One every four hours. And the motive? Nearly always money.

Ransom demands range from several hundred to several million dollars. On average, people kidnapped by common criminals will remain captives for two weeks to a month. Guerillas typically hold their captives for six to eight months.

Colombia currently has more than 100 reported cases of people being held for ransom. Most cases don't get reported, though, for fear of retaliation.

In recent years, more than two dozen American citizens, (mostly dual nationals), were reported kidnapped. Most were released after a ransom was paid. Colombian authorities rescued one. The FARC and ELN have kidnapped U.S. citizens on a number of occasions.

American kidnap or murder victims have included journalists, missionaries, scientists, human rights workers and business people, as well as persons on tourism or family visits, and even small children. No one can be considered immune.

At least 55 people older than age 65 are being held. The oldest known victim in captivity is an 84-year-old man.

Colombia's kidnappers run the gamut from left-wing guerrillas to paramilitaries, common criminals, corrupt policemen, drug traffickers, political rivals -- even close relatives. The less organized criminal elements tend to be less predictable in their handling of hostages than are the guerillas, who employ hostage-taking as a means to fund long-term campaigns, and view hostages as valuable resources.

Indeed, the leftist guerrillas, who control major stretches of countryside, are blamed for half of Colombia's 10,000 reported cases since 1990. Hostage-taking is also being used increasingly by the guerillas as a means to pressure the government to release imprisoned guerilla fighters.

Ransom demands range from several hundred to several million dollars. On average, people kidnapped by common criminals will remain captives for two weeks to a month. Guerillas typically hold their captives for six to eight months.

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Any other FReepers work for the 120,000 employee Northrop?

[PaulaB]

My husband is the TACAS (goodness I hope that is right) here in the NOC in Dallas Northrop...his freeper name is DesertSapper..I'm going to let him know about this post. :)

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Thanks PaulaB.

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U.S. Initiatives

U.S. ambassador to Colombia, William B. Wood, recently stated, "We have reached out to the FARC through many intermediaries, through the Catholic Church, through the Red Cross, through non-government organizations, and through third country governments to try and persuade them to release Tom, Keith, and Marc, and they haven't done so. So our policy is to keep trying to arrange some sort of solution to persuade the FARC to release them."

$5 Million Reward Offered

Wood recently announced that the government would offer up to $5 million, a U.S. visa, and protection to anyone who offered information that led to the capture of the heads of the Teófilo Forero front, or anyone directly responsible for the kidnapping. The money is in addition to a $325,000 reward offered in March.

Wood singled out three alleged members of the elite Forero front who are believed to have had direct participation in the kidnapping:

Carlos Alberto García Camargo, known as Hermides Buitrago, Oscar Montero and "el Paisa."
Marly Yuri Capera Quesada, alias ''la pilota'' -- the pilot.
Pedro González Perdomo, known as ''Alfredo Arenas'' or "Ignacio.''

It's also been reported that the embassy will launch a publicity campaign so that would-be tipsters know where to call and are aware of the benefits, including the relocation of the informant's family. The reward money comes from a 19-year-old federal program which has paid out $47 million to 29 people.

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Update:

I got a FReep-mail from someone that is in that part of the world who assures me these Americans are not forgotten. The person said that there are many obstacles to finding them both logistically and politically.

[piasa]

Old but updated since this thread was started:

Colombian captured

The United States hopes the recent capture of the guerrilla drug king known as "Sonia" may shed some light on the fate of three Americans held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

Sonia (real name Nayibe Rojas) was the cocaine and finance chief in the Caqueta area of southern Colombia.

Said a defense source, "As a senior leader in that region, she is likely aware of where our guys are, disposition of enemy forces, etc. In addition, her capture will put a big dent in the FARC's ability to generate cash from coca."

A new U.S.-trained Colombian special-operations unit has scored a string of successes in recent months as it corners and kills or captures top leaders of FARC, a terrorist organization that indiscriminately kills military personnel and civilians, and deals in the international cocaine trade.

We reported earlier this year that a rescue mission would be next to impossible at this point to rescue three American contractors captured when their plane was shot down. The FARC moves the hostages frequently. At base camps, FARC operators set up multiple rings of defense.

----- Source : http://www.gertzfile.com/gertzfile/ring021304.html February 13, 2004 Notes from the Pentagon

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Thanks so much piasa! I'll send this out to some people I know and get back to you.

Merry Christmas!