III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 627 

Welcoming home Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes, and Marc Gonsalves, three 

citizens of the United States who were held hostage for over five years 

by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) after their 

plane crashed on February 13, 2003. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 26, 2008 

Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. 

DODD, Mr. COLEMAN, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. CRAIG, Mr. 

BOND, Mr. DOMENICI, Mr. HATCH, and Mr. CHAMBLISS) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Welcoming home Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes, and Marc 

Gonsalves, three citizens of the United States who were 

held hostage for over five years by the Revolutionary 

Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) after their plane 

crashed on February 13, 2003. 

Whereas a Congressional Resolution in 2007 (S. Con. Res. 

53) condemned the kidnapping and hostage-taking of 

three citizens of the United States, Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes, and Marc Gonsalves for over four years by the 

FARC, and demanded their immediate and unconditional 

release; 


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•SRES 627 IS 

Whereas the Senate expresses sorrow at the murder of Tom 

Janis by the FARC, another citizen of the United States 

that was on the downed aircraft, and Luis Alcedes Cruz, 

a member of the Colombian military, as well as citizens 

of the United States who died during a hostage search 

mission in 2003; 

Whereas the Government of Colombia carried out a historic 

rescue mission on July 2, 2008, freeing 15 hostages who 

the FARC had kidnapped and held in captivity, including 

these three citizens of the United States, Ingrid Betancourt, and military and police personnel of Colombia; 

Whereas the armed forces of Colombia planned, led, and executed the rescue operation without a single gunshot; 

Whereas the United States Government played a key supportive role in the rescue mission by the armed forces of 

Colombia; 

Whereas the FARC is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Department of State and the European 

Union; 

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

Whereas the FARC committed atrocities against citizens of 

both Colombia and the United States; 

Whereas the FARC has kidnapped at least 36 citizens of the 

United States since 1980, and killed 10 citizens of the 

United States; 

Whereas the FARC currently holds an estimated 700 people 

as hostages; and 

Whereas over 50 FARC leaders have been indicted in the 

United States for drug trafficking: Now, therefore, be it 


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•SRES 627 IS 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) welcomes Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes, 

3 and Marc Gonsalves home to the United States after 

4 being held for over five years by the Revolutionary 

5 Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC); 

6 (2) celebrates with the families and relatives of 

7 the hostages who kept faith despite being unsure of 

8 the fates of their family members for more than five 

9 years; 

10 (3) expresses gratitude to the Government of 

11 Colombia and the armed forces of Colombia for suc12 cessfully rescuing the hostages, and applauds the ef13 fective contribution of the United States Government 

14 to this effort; 

15 (4) calls for the immediate release of all hos16 tages held by the FARC and other armed terrorist 

17 groups in Colombia; and 

18 (5) urges the FARC to lay down their weapons 

19 and reject terrorism. 

Æ 


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