NEWS
February 16, 1990 | From Times Wire Services
As President Bush attended a drug summit in Cartagena on Thursday, guerrillas kidnaped an American priest in Cali, the third American seized by rebels this week. Shortly afterward, the self-styled National Liberation Army (ELN), a Cuban-line guerrilla band blamed for all three abductions, issued a statement declaring that "every U.S. interest in Colombia" has been declared a target. The State Department identified the kidnaped priest as Father Francis A.
NEWS
August 31, 1989 | WILLIAM R. LONG and KENNETH FREED, Times Staff Writers
In new signs of concern Wednesday over violence by ruthless drug traffickers, the U.S. Embassy ordered American dependents of its employees to leave Colombia, and 48 American exchange students departed for home. In Medellin, where a series of bomb explosions have been blamed on drug traffickers, the mayor imposed a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
February 9, 1994 | DOUGLAS ALGER, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Family members and co-workers of two U.S. missionary workers taken hostage by leftist rebels in Colombia are waiting, and praying, to hear from the kidnapers. Scott Welch, the son of one of the kidnaped men, attends The Masters College in Santa Clarita. He was unwilling to discuss the situation, fearing it might endanger his father. His father, Steve Welch, 41, of North Platte, Neb., and Tim Van Dyke, 41, of Towanda, Penn., were kidnaped Jan.
NEWS
March 27, 1999 | From Times Wire Reports
Authorities have ordered the arrest of the brother of one of Colombia's top Marxist rebel leaders for his alleged role in the recent kidnapping and slaying of three Americans, judicial officials said. Spokesmen for Prosecutor General Alfonso Mendez said the warrant for the arrest of German Briceno was issued on suspicion that he personally ordered the killings that drew an international outcry. Briceno is the brother of Jorge Briceno, the No.
NEWS
June 6, 1993 | Associated Press
An American mining engineer held captive nine months by leftist guerrillas was reportedly freed with his Venezuelan translator. Richard Wayne Dougherty, a 54-year-old Colorado native, and Cesar Carrasquero Salcedo were turned over to a priest Thursday in the mountain town of Tibu, 320 miles northeast of Bogota, the daily La Opinion said Friday. The daily La Nacion said that both men were in good health and that no ransom was paid. The two were kidnaped last Sept.
NEWS
March 11, 1999 | DAVID AQUILA LAWRENCE, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Guerrillas admitted Wednesday that one of their field officers ordered the killing of three kidnapped Americans, but they added that the rebels will judge him themselves rather than turn him over to authorities. The admission marked a turning point for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, this nation's oldest and largest insurgent group, as it attempts to gain legitimacy for its 3-decade-old conflict with the government. However, it fell far short of U.S.