Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-11
HOstdgesWeII,
But Ask Quick
Bolivia Release

oRURO. Bolivia, Dec. III
tAP).-The four Americans |
and II other hostages held by
rebellious Bolivian tin miners
are crammed each night into |
one room 10 by IL feet and /
sleep on the floor without mat
tresses.
They all appear in good .
health but seem understands
bly, concerned and annoyed at
their unexpected imprisonment, |
now in its fifth day. |
The hostages were inter-
viewed by newsmen at nearby /
Catavi yesterday for the first |
time since they were taken pris-
oner Friday in retaliation for /
the governments arrest Of two
Communist labor leaders, Iri- |
neo Pimentel and Federico Es-
cobar.
Under a close guard. the re-
porters we're led into two small
rooms at the headquarters Of
the mine union and met the
hostages, who also include q
West German, q Dutchman
and nine Bolivian technieians.
Arrested After Dinner
Thomas Martin, 81, of New
York, q United States Informa-
ton Service officer. said he
and the other Americans we're
arrested after dinner Friday
night at the home Of Cornelius
Bloot, a Dutch mine manager.
Mr.. Martin said he and the
other three Americans had
come to Catavi to study the
possibility of building two
schools there and to deliver a
$4,000 United States aid
check.
I'VE came with the knowl-
edge and support Of Pimentel
and Escobar," he said.
I'VE Just want to be set
free" said Michael A. Krustula
of Cadillac, Mich, information
chief for the Alliance for Prog
ress in Bolivia.
Robert Fereerstrom of Homo
lulu, q Peace Corps volunteer.
said all the hostages were well.
Bernard Rifkin, 50, Of Mont
clair, N. j., a United States la
Dor officer, Is the fourth Amer
lean.
No Complaint on Food
None Of the captiveS COM
planned about the food. but
they said sanitary facilities
were inadequate and water was
short.
Armed militiamen, miners
and their wives stood guard
outside the improvised prison.
The miners gave no indica-
ton when the hostages might
be set free.
Meanwhile, an agreement
was reported reached to head
off q clash bet3een soldiers and
the tin miners. The agreement
was reported at La Paz, the
capital.
The army was handed orders
from President Victor Paz
Estenssoro to make no move
against the mines.
One effect Of the agreement
was to check the march Of
peasant militiamen on Oruro to
defend Mr.. Estenssoro's govern
ment against the rebellious
miners. The peasants. strong
of the President, are
to be kept out Of oruro.
The dispatch from Oruro
said the agreement was signed
by Col. Juan Jose Torres,
commander Of 5000 troops
concentrated around Oruro,
and Senator Armando Morales,
who spoke for the miners.
Terms Of Accord
The colonel was said to have
agreed to limit the army to
patroling Oruro and the sur
rounding area. The armed
miners would be kept in the
zone around Catavi-Siglo
veinte, about 80 miles south Of
Oruro.
This is the biggest mining
district in Bolivia. About 1000
miners are employed there.
The armed miners are IN
complete control Of the zone.
The Foreign Ministry. mean
while, denied a United States
Embassy spokesman's state
ment that Bolivia had asked
for arms aid to help quell the
insurrection and release the
hostages.
In an official note, Foreign
Minister Jose Fellman Velarde
thanked the United States for
President Johnson's offer Of
full assistance" but said the