Colombian Military Admits They Have Not Yet Found Kidnapped Mine Workers

By Paula Buzzi
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia — At least 11 oil workers were kidnapped on Tuesday by an unidentified armed group as they were working on Colombia’s largest oil-pipeline project, Oleoducto Bicentario. Colombia’s Defense Minister, Juan Carlos Pinzon, announced on Wednesday morning that the workers had been found and freed after a search mission. He later backtracked his statement and admitted that the workers are still missing.

11 oil workers were kidnapped on Tuesday by an unidentified armed group. (Photo Courtesy of Colombia Reports).

The oil workers were kidnapped as they were riding the bus to work in the rural Arauca province. Colombian authorities are blaming the ELN, Colombia’s second largest rebel group, for the kidnapping because of the location of the act. According to authorities, 500 security forces are looking for the missing oil workers and they are promising a $57,000 reward for any information leading to their safe recovery.

Defense Minister Pinzon’s statement on Wednesday morning stirred up some controversy when it was later discovered that the oil workers were still missing. He confirmed to the media that the oil workers were safe in a military base when in fact they had never been found. Furthermore, he initially said nine workers had been kidnapped, which he corrected to 11 later that day in his redaction.

The kidnapping highlights the dangers of the new booming oil sector in Colombia. Oil and gas companies operating in dangerous rural regions are often vulnerable to attacks by organized crime and drug cartels. The Colombian Petroleum Association has recently warned of an increase in extortion demands on oil companies.  President Juan Manuel Santos has threatened to exile any foreign company that participates in extortion to any criminal group.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Colombia’s biggest rebel group and one of many criminal groups in Arauca, has been bombing oil pipelines and kidnapping civilian workers for decades in order to disrupt the oil market. The FARC is famous for their high profile kidnappings of politicians and business executives.

The kidnapping came only days after FARC announced its intent to stop abducting civilians. Three Chinese oil contractors and a translator are still missing from when the FARC kidnapped them in June.

 

For further information, please see:

Colombia Reports – ELN Blamed For Kidnapping Oil Workers – 01 March 2012

Fox Business – Colombian Military Continues Search For Missing Oil Workers – 29 February 2012

Colombia Reports – 9 Kidnapped Oil Workers Liberated – 29 February 2012

Reuters – Eleven Colombian Oil Workers Kidnapped by Armed Group – 29 February 2011

Associated Press – Colombia’s FARC Announces Halt to Kidnapping – 27 February 2012

 

Author: Impunity Watch Archive