IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 260 

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. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 15, 2007 

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida (for himself, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. FORTUN ̃O, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. MACK, Mr. RENZI, 

Mr. WOLF, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. PUTNAM, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. LINCOLN

DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. KELLER of Florida, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Mr. 

BUCHANAN, Mr. WELLER of Illinois, and Ms. GRANGER) submitted the 

following resolution; which was 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; 


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HCON 260 IH 

Whereas the FARC has consistently committed atrocities 

against citizens of both Colombia and the United States, 

kidnapped more than 36 United Sates citizens since 

1980, and killed 10 United States citizens; 

Whereas an aircraft carrying United Sates citizens crashed 

over territory controlled by the FARC on February 13, 

2003; 

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 reported alive on July 25, 

2003, during a taped interview with the CBS news show 

‘‘60 Minutes’’; 

Whereas a Colombian police officer 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 House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 


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HCON 260 IH 

1 (1) condemns the kidnappings of Keith 

2 Stansell, Thomas Howes, and Marc Gonsalves by the 

3 Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) 

4 and calls for their immediate and unconditional re5 lease; 

6 (2) condemns the FARC for holding these hos7 tages for more than 4 years and demands to know 

8 their health and status; 

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

10 Janis; 

11 (4) condemns the FARC for its use of kidnap12 ping for ransom, extortion, and drug trafficking and 

13 for supporting and spreading terror within Colom14 bia; 

15 (5) expresses sympathy to the relatives of the 

16 hostages who have been unsure of the fates of their 

17 family members for more than 4 years; 

18 (6) reconfirms that the United States Govern19 ment does not make concessions to terrorists; and 

20 (7) reiterates that the United States Govern21 ment supports efforts to secure the safe return of 

22 the hostages to the United States. 

Æ 


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