Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia

Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 11, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia (Written by Reality Man)
Reality Man must think about this for a moment... 1 person every four hours??? That is 6 people a day...42 people a week....180 people a month...2,190 people a year??? I don't think the FARC has enough food to feed 2,190 people a year! HAHA That figure is almost as good as the one I saw where 100.000 acres of Rain forest was vanishing every minute... that is the entire country of Colombia in less than a year, vanishing. hmmm I think I might have noticed that?? The American Embassy web site uses the figure 50 Americans a year. That could be but frankly I even challenge that figure. Is it a run rate? 20 people kidnapped (killed but no body found) in one year carried over to the next, added to 30 to get 50, etc. Anybody know? I guess it is almost getting to the point that there is so many forigners around that I have grown to appreciate scare posts like these! HAHA The reality is if the mosquitoes don't keep you away neither should the FARC. Just use common sense with both and you will survive! JAJA

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 11, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia Well actually, 2190 people is a VERY conservative estimate. Last year over 3500 were kidnapped. I don't think the FARC takes them all, but they take their share I'm sure.

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 11, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia (Written by Camilo)
That is why we have to support the president

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 11, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia (Written by Reality Man)
I wonder how many of those kidnnapped actually are still out with their amante and "forgot" to call home? Here is a good story for you I know a Colombian who moved to the US to get away from the violence. His niece was kidnapped and killed in the US. Oh and although I didn't know them there were several Colombians that went down with the World Trade Center. If it is your time it is your time. Enjoy life, have a cerveza and don't worry about it.

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 11, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia (Written by ColombianoX)
Así se habla, Reality Man! You tell 'em!!! Saludos.

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 11, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia (Written by Max Colby)

Most experts put the total number of kidnap victims at about 3,500 a year. Approximately, 35 foreigners a year are kidnapped in Colombia including my friend David Hutchinson who has now been realeased. Understandably, he is not sure whether he wants to return to Colombia.

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 11, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia Reality man sounds a bit unreal and a lot naive.

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 11, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia and not really a man

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 11, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia Reality man sounds like he is in denial !!


Wake up and smell the coffee reality man...

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 12, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia (Written by Reality Man)
I don't know anyone who has been kidnapped and I have lived in Cali my entire life (30 years). I had a family member killed though which doesn't make our family any different than families around the world. What I find interesting is people who come in here completely ignorant to anything but the outer limits of there imaginations. Perhaps you visited Colombia from your farm in Iowa and like those I have met who have visited all have a story to tell. You all remind me of the Japanese tourist snapping pictures of the graffiti in NYC and going home and telling all there brave tail of survival and heroism. Is there kidnappings in Colombia? Yep of course there are. Is there a problem with FARC? Yep. Can you name me one country in the world where you can go and have no fear of being kidnapped or murdered? If you are not in a high profile position or wealthy in Colombia you are not likely to get kidnapped unless you are stupid so why all the mystery and wild imaginations kiddies. Are you all afraid of the dark?

As far as me being a man or not I have proved that already many times over with men far better than you and your little cowardly remarks. Say that to my face on the street some day and we will see how many of your bones I can break before you hit the ground...the months of healing ahead of you would give you time to think about getting some manners! I'd like that!

Si este fuera una pagina para gente de habla hispana solamente seria mas interesante pues se diria la verdadera historia acerca de Colombia.

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 12, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia You're not only thin skinned, but a bad ass in your opinion - not very convincing from a distance. Probably afraid of the dark also.

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 12, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia Reality man, you are in denial. Why are the figures (approx 3,000 kidnapped per yr)wrong ? Is it because you won't believe them and therefore "you" must be right ....




Que le pasa viejo, despierte un poco pa que vea la realidad. Yo tambien quiero a Colombia pero eso no significa que nuestro pais se fue a la mierda hace mucho tiempo parse !!!

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 12, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia (Written by Helle)
Hm, I have my doubts allso. Which kind of foreigners are likely to
be kidnapped in Colombia? Most probably representatives of big companies,
maybe Mr. Hutchinson was doing business for his bank in Bogotá?

How probable is ist for a gringo tourist or some foreigner doing small business?
Two germans were kidnapped some years ago and held several month by the FARC, but they were working
in a project about offering an alternative to coca production in rural regions, they have made a website about it (in german)
see http://www.farc.de/. In my opinion these guys have played with fire and burnt themselves, messing with the drug business.

On the other hand there was a report on german TV some weeks ago about some shopowners in Bogotá (not realy very wealthy people) being held by the FARC for several years.
In some cases the families have payed twice for them and they didn´t return though.

At least I was very impressed when my friend and I had an appointment with her sister in Bogotá and she (the sister) didn´t appear after half an hour
. my friend became very, very nervous and was very relieved when she finally appeared.

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 12, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia It is really bad but it is nothing compared to the millions of africans kidnapped and enslaved by the british......

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 12, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia (Written by Reality Man)
yep I am a Bad Ass and just another blood thirsty Colombian! Come down here and I will kidnap you! So you better stay away! Wouldn't it be great if all the paranoid assholes stayed in their own countries and didn't come to Colombia! Ah heaven...

your real danger lies in traveling to countries who are not stable enough to put out a news cast about the kidnapping/killing

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 12, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia (Written by Rick)
So true Reality man..............I think every country has it own issues.

I think everyone should travel to diff countries to get a taste.

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 12, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia A bad message to be sending from Colombia - could further reduce the few visitors now coming to your country.

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 12, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia What country can't you get kipnapped in? Well, pick any one from Europe, at least, the USA and most parts of Asia.


The kidnapping situation that exists here in Colombia is not the norm for the rest of the world: it's the highest.

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Peter (Moderator) (Dev team) says on May 12, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Briton tells of hostage ordeal in Colombia (Written by Patriot)
Reality Man
I've traveled all over the world in my lifetime and have visited Colombia a number of times. My wife is a Colombian from Cali, so obviously I'll make a number of return trips there in the future. I love Colombia! Nowhere else in the world are there friendlier people! When I see some of my countrymen bad mouthing Colombia on this site, the first thought I have is that they've never been to Colombia. They simply repeat what they read in the newspapers.
Whenever I have returned from a trip to Colombia or whenever someone learns of my travels there, I am asked the same questions over and over again and hear the same comments ... isn't it dangerous there? I always respond with ... "no more than any major city in the US." Then they tell me that Colombians are destitute and desperate to leave, that the only reason they befriend me, is in hopes that I can somehow assist them in getting a green card. What a laugh! I respond to that one with ... "someone forgot to tell them that they are destitute." "The people I've met in Colombia are quite happy."
It's ammazing the views people have from reading newspapers or listening to broadcast news. I guess no one told them that Bad News Sells. I also think that no one told them that if they're not qualified, then they should keep their opinions to themselves.
It's no different here in the US as in Colombia. If you've ever visited LA or NY you can appreciate that if you go to certain areas with a pocket full of money and flashing a lot of jewery ... ain't likly you'll return home as wealthy as when you left.
I'm with you on this one Realty Man, you must exercise caution where caution is due ... no matter where you are!

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