105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 277
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Concerning the New Tribes Mission hostage crisis.
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 277
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas Mark Rich, David Mankins, and Rick Tenenoff of
the Sanford, Florida, based New Tribes Mission were ab-
ducted on January 31, 1993, from the Kuna Indian vil-
lage of Pucuro in the Darien Province of Panama;
Whereas the wives and children of these American citizens,
Tania Rich (daughters—Tamra and Jessica), Nancy
Mankins (son—Chad, daughter—Sarah), and Patti
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Tenenoff (son—Richard Lee III, daughters—Dora and
Connie), have lived the past 5 years without knowledge
of the safety of these 3 men;
Whereas Mark Rich, David Mankins, and Rick Tenenoff
presently are believed to be the longest held United
States hostages;
Whereas this kidnapping represents a gross violation of the
3 missionaries’ human rights and is not an isolated inci-
dent in Colombia where, since 1980, 83 innocent Ameri-
cans have been held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation
Army (ELN);
Whereas the FARC and the ELN guerrilla groups in Colom-
bia have both been designated terrorist organizations by
the Department of State;
Whereas Colombia is engaged in a high-level conflict with
these guerrilla insurgency groups, a number of whom are
protectorates of the deadly drug trade;
Whereas the FARC has recently threatened officials of the
United States Government and kidnapped additional
United States citizens in Colombia;
Whereas the region of Colombia where the 3 American mis-
sionaries are believed to be held is controlled not by the
Colombian Government, but rather by the FARC;
Whereas on December 9, 1997, the President of Colombia
stated on an internationally televised episode of Larry
King Live that the FARC ‘‘in some ways have admitted
indirectly that they have the missionaries’’;
Whereas Human Rights Watch has stated that ‘‘The FARC
has an obligation to unconditionally free the 3 mission-
aries, with all necessary guarantees’’ and Amnesty Inter-
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national has declared their ‘‘request that the FARC re-
spect international humanitarian norms, guarantee the
life and physical safety of the missionaries and uncondi-
tionally free them and all other hostages’’;
Whereas congressional inquiries regarding the 3 missionaries
have been made to United States Government entities,
including, the White House, the Department of State, the
Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, and
the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
Whereas congressional inquiries regarding the 3 missionaries
have been made to Amnesty International, Pax Christi,
His Holiness the Pope John Paul II, and the Inter-
national Committee of the Red Cross, which has provided
assurances that their Colombian delegation ‘‘is still ac-
tively working in favor of the missing members of the
New Tribes Mission’’;
Whereas 58 Members of Congress and Senators signed letters
to 8 different heads of state, including Costa Rica, Mex-
ico, Panama, Spain, Venezuela, Guatemala, Colombia,
and Portugal, in attendance at the Iberian-American
Conference in Venezuela in November of 1997, request-
ing any and all assistance in order to bring about a fa-
vorable outcome to this unfortunate event;
Whereas no official confirmation of life or death has been
made by any United States Government entity, non-
governmental organization, foreign government, or reli-
gious institution;
Whereas the distinction between a ‘‘terrorist activity’’ and a
‘‘criminal activity’’ perpetrated on an American citizen
traveling abroad should not be a limiting factor in terms
of United States governmental investigation; and
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Whereas every consideration to safety and prudence regard-
ing action by the United States Government, foreign gov-
ernments, nongovernmental organizations, international
institutions, and other groups in this matter should be of
the highest priority: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That—
(1) the President of the United States and his
emissaries should raise the kidnapping of Mark
Rich, David Mankins, and Rick Tenenoff of the New
Tribes Mission and other American victims in Co-
lombia to all relevant foreign governments, non-
governmental organizations, and religious institu-
tions at every opportunity until a favorable outcome
is achieved;
(2) the international community should encour-
age any and all groups believed to have information
on this case to come forward to help the families of
the kidnapped missionaries;
(3) all appropriate information obtained by the
United States Government, foreign governments,
international institutions, nongovernmental organiza-
tions, and religious institutions should be turned
over in a timely basis to the New Tribes Mission cri-
sis response team;