Colombia-British Embassy Official Kidnapped
8-26-1995
^By ANDREW SELSKY=
^Associated Press Writer=
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) _ Leftist rebels kidnapped a British Embassy official while he was bird-watching in western Colombia, authorities said Saturday.
Staff Sgt. Timothy Cowley, an assistant to the embassy's defense attache, was kidnapped on Aug. 12, Britain's Foreign Office said in London.
The Jaime Bateman Cayon group is believed responsible, said Gen. Camilo Zuniga, commander of Colombia's armed forces. It is one of the smallest of a handful of rebel groups fighting the government for over 30 years, which have turned increasingly to kidnapping and working with drug traffickers to make money.
An American, Thomas Hargrove, was released by rebels last week after 11 months in captivity. A ransom was reportedly paid.
Cowley was abducted on a road 100 miles west of Bogota near the village of El Toche, press reports said.
"He ... liked to watch birds and went to the area without taking any security measures," Zuniga said.
The army, police and anti-kidnapping forces were working to free Cowley, Zuniga told CMI television in Bogota. He gave no details. The kidnapping was kept quiet while Colombian officials negotiated for Cowley's release.
Britain's Foreign Office said it is trying to win his freedom but would not pay any ransom. The kidnappers have contacted the embassy about Cowley, but it is not clear whether they demanded money.
Cowley's kidnapping came the same day that the body another Briton was found.
Trevor Catton, 22, who had lived in Colombia most of his life, was found dead Aug. 12 south of Bogota. He had been abducted on June 24 from his parents' vacation home in Fomeque, 25 miles southeast of the capital.
Cowley had clerical duties in the administrative and personnel section of the embassy, Britain's Defense Ministry said. Just two days before the kidnapping, Cowley told The Associated Press that he knew little about rebel groups.
The U.S. State Department issued a warning this month that guerrillas were planning to kidnap Americans. Many Western diplomats travel in bullet-proof vehicles. For some, parts of Colombia are off-limits because of rebels.
^By ANDREW SELSKY=
^Associated Press Writer=
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) _ Leftist rebels kidnapped a British Embassy official while he was bird-watching in western Colombia, authorities said Saturday.
Staff Sgt. Timothy Cowley, an assistant to the embassy's defense attache, was kidnapped on Aug. 12, Britain's Foreign Office said in London.
The Jaime Bateman Cayon group is believed responsible, said Gen. Camilo Zuniga, commander of Colombia's armed forces. It is one of the smallest of a handful of rebel groups fighting the government for over 30 years, which have turned increasingly to kidnapping and working with drug traffickers to make money.
An American, Thomas Hargrove, was released by rebels last week after 11 months in captivity. A ransom was reportedly paid.
Cowley was abducted on a road 100 miles west of Bogota near the village of El Toche, press reports said.
"He ... liked to watch birds and went to the area without taking any security measures," Zuniga said.
The army, police and anti-kidnapping forces were working to free Cowley, Zuniga told CMI television in Bogota. He gave no details. The kidnapping was kept quiet while Colombian officials negotiated for Cowley's release.
Britain's Foreign Office said it is trying to win his freedom but would not pay any ransom. The kidnappers have contacted the embassy about Cowley, but it is not clear whether they demanded money.
Cowley's kidnapping came the same day that the body another Briton was found.
Trevor Catton, 22, who had lived in Colombia most of his life, was found dead Aug. 12 south of Bogota. He had been abducted on June 24 from his parents' vacation home in Fomeque, 25 miles southeast of the capital.
Cowley had clerical duties in the administrative and personnel section of the embassy, Britain's Defense Ministry said. Just two days before the kidnapping, Cowley told The Associated Press that he knew little about rebel groups.
The U.S. State Department issued a warning this month that guerrillas were planning to kidnap Americans. Many Western diplomats travel in bullet-proof vehicles. For some, parts of Colombia are off-limits because of rebels.
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