IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 53 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 19, 2007 

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Condemning the kidnapping and hostage-taking of 3 United 

States citizens for over 4 years by the Revolutionary 

Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and demanding 

their immediate and unconditional release. 

Whereas the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia 

(FARC) is designated as a foreign terrorist organization 

by the Department of State; 

Whereas the FARC utilizes kidnappings for ransom, extortion, and the drug trade to finance its activities; 

Whereas the FARC has consistently committed atrocities 

against citizens of both Colombia and the United States, 

kidnapped at least 36 United States citizens since 1980, 

and killed 10 United States citizens; 

Whereas an aircraft carrying United States citizens crashed 

over territory controlled by the FARC on February 13, 

2003; 

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SCON 53 RFH 

Whereas Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes, and Marc 

Gonsalves, 3 United States citizens on the aircraft, were 

taken hostage by the FARC on February 13, 2003; 

Whereas the FARC murdered Tom Janis, another United 

States citizen on the downed aircraft; 

Whereas 3 United States citizens on a subsequent search 

mission also lost their lives; 

Whereas the 3 hostages were last shown alive in a videotape 

seized by the Government of Colombia and aired on November 30, 2007; 

Whereas a police officer from Colombia who escaped from the 

FARC in April 2007 claims he saw the 3 United States 

hostages alive in April 2007; 

Whereas at least 50 FARC leaders have been indicted in the 

United States for drug trafficking; and 

Whereas Ricardo Palmera, the most senior FARC leader to 

be tried in the United States, was convicted of conspiring 

to take the United States citizens hostage in Colombia: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) condemns the kidnappings of Keith 

4 Stansell, Thomas Howes, and Marc Gonsalves by the 

5 Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) 

6 and calls for their immediate and unconditional re7 lease; 

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SCON 53 RFH 

1 (2) condemns the FARC for holding these hos2 tages for more than 4 years and demands to know 

3 their health and status; 

4 (3) condemns the FARC for the murder of Tom 

5 Janis; 

6 (4) condemns the FARC for its use of kidnap7 ping for ransom, extortion, and drug trafficking and 

8 for supporting and spreading terror within Colom9 bia; 

10 (5) expresses sympathy to the relatives of the 

11 hostages who have been unsure of the fates of their 

12 family members for more than 4 years; 

13 (6) reconfirms that the United States Govern14 ment does not make concessions to terrorists; and 

15 (7) reiterates that the United States Govern16 ment supports efforts to secure the safe return of 

17 the hostages to the United States. 

Passed the Senate December 19 (legislative day, December 18), 2007. 

Attest: NANCY ERICKSON, 

Secretary. 

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