Cecilio Juan Padrón - Kidnapped By The FARC in Costa del Este

Cecilio Juan Padrón - Kidnapped By The FARC in Costa del Este
Thursday, May 01 2008 at 04:18 PM EST
Contributed by: Don Winner
http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/20080501161834503

El Siglo - Authorities from the United States have confirmed the kidnapping of Cuban-American businessman Cecilio Juan Padrón has the marks of the Colombian "Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionaria de Colombia" (FARC) guerrilla group. And it is that, precisely, in the file regarding this case there is a report on investigations completed by the Anti Drug Office of the United States; in addition, in the US Embassy in Bogota, a photo of the man has been published. Cecilio Juan Padrón, 66 years-old, according to official information, was kidnapped at the Zeus Towers building in the exclusive Costa del Este sector of Panama City in the Parque Lefevre area, demonstrating that the FARC guerrillas are operating throughout the national territory, even in the Capital City, proving they are no longer only a security problem Darién province. (more)

Editor's Comment: OK, let me run this for one by all of you conspiracy theorists out there. Remember back in February when the Panamanian government officially briefed all of the most important Panamanian news outlets that Hugo Chavez was providing financing to the SUNTRACS? There was a little flap between Panama and Venezuela, and shortly thereafter there was a high-seas shootout between some FARC guys and some Panamanian Border Security elements of the National Police. As a result of that conflict several FARC guerrillas were detained, and they remain in prison in Panama. And now, just a few weeks later, the FARC comes into Panama City (Costa del Este, no less) to snatch a Cuban-American businessman to take hostage.

Think Like the FARC: They only understand one thing - bargaining chips. They want their guys back, and if anyone every wants to see Cecilio Juan Padrón alive again, it's going to be in some kind of a deal or swap. Did you catch the last few paragraphs of this article? The Panamanian National Police had captured a handful of guerrillas in the Darién, and then 200 dudes come out of the jungle to take them back before the police can get them to the police station. Was that reported in the national press? I don't think so...

The FARC is a Deal Breaker: If the FARC are running around down in the Darién, running guns and drugs and stuff, well that's all pretty much just fine and dandy. As a matter of fact that kind of activity has been part of the Panama scenario for literally decades. But for the most part the FARC has been more concerned about the business of moving cocaine, and that means they end up killing themselves, killing their rivals, and trying not to draw attention to themselves. In fact they have historically avoiding doing things like this Padrón kidnapping. The one outstanding exception was the kidnapping of three missionaries from the New Tribes Missions on 31 January 1993, who were taken by the FARC and eventually killed in Colombia. So, the FARC kidnapping an American businessman in Panama City is a HUGE departure from what can be considered normal conduct for the FARC. Now, why?

It's Got To Be Their Buds: The only thing that has changed is the capture of the FARC guerrillas in February. They trade chip for chip, and now they have one. It's that simple.

(Article Continues)

Investigators think the businessman was taken from the country through the Darién rain forest and then to Colombia via the ocean on speedboats. Two telephone calls were make, according to the telephone registries made by investigators, from the Panamanian coasts.

The man could have been sold to the Colombian insurgents for about $2 million dollars and the contact for them was a Colombian living in Santa Librada.

They add, what's more, that he was given to these foreigners who act on the margins of the law along one of the trails that exist in the Darién province where they have been known to exist and operate for years.

In as much, ABC News agency from the United States indicates that Padrón is being held with two other Americans who are also under the control of the Colombian FARC guerrillas and whose photos appear in the US Embassy in Bogota. Citing diplomatic functionaries as sources, the members of the FARC supposedly kidnapped Padrón. This man could be held with the contractors who worked for California Microwave Systems, a division of Northrop Grumman, in Colombia, who were working aboard an airplane that crashed in Colombia in 2003, after a monitoring mission. In Panama and Bogota agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) investigating this case, said sources of the American news agency, refused to be named due to the sensitivity of the subject. They add in addition that the Embassy of the United States in Panama has been in contact with the family of Padrón.

North American authorities have said that both of the men who Panamanian investigators are searching for in relation to this case could be members of the FARC or intermediaries.

Last Friday, presumed Colombian guerrillas entered into the jungle area of Jaqué in the Darién province to obtain the release of six of their companions who had been detained by the Panamanian border patrol.

Police sources in the area confirmed that when the Border Security Units of the Panamanian National Police were taking the six detained insurgents to the police station, they were surrounded by more than 200 guerrillas who demanded the release of the six detained guerrillas. They added that the insurgents even fired into the air to drive away the police units.

Empresario fue secuestrado en Costa del Este

Padrón en manos de las FARC

Elio Núñez enunez at elsiglo.com

Las autoridades de Estados Unidos han confirmado que la privación de libertad del cubano Cecilio Juan Padrón tiene la marca de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionaria de Colombia (FARC).

Y es que, precisamente, en el expediente de este caso existe un informe de investigaciones hechas por la oficina antidrogas de Estados Unidos; además, en la embajada de este país, en Bogotá, existe una foto del hombre publicada.

Cecilio Juan Padrón, de 66 años, de acuerdo con los informes oficiales, fue secuestrado en el edificio Zeus Towers del exclusivo sector de Costa del Este, en el corregimiento de Parque Lefevre, lo que demuestra que los guerrilleros de las FARC se encuentran operando en todo el territorio nacional, incluso en la ciudad capital, dejando al descubierto que ya no sólo representan un problema de seguridad en la provincia de Darién.

Los investigadores consideran que el empresario fue sacado del país rumbo a la selva darienita y luego a Colombia por vía marítima a través de lanchas rápidas.

Dos llamadas se realizaron, según los registros telefónicos que realizan los investigadores, desde las costas panameñas.

El hombre pudo ser vendido a los insurgentes colombianos por unos 2 millones de dólares y el contacto para ellos fue un colombiano residente en Santa Librada.

Agregan, además, que fue entregado a estos extranjeros al margen de la ley en una de las trochas que existen en la provincia de Darién, donde ya se ha comprobado que están presentes desde hace años.

En tanto, la agencia Abc News, de Estados Unidos, indica que Padrón se encuentra junto a dos estadounidenses en poder de la guerrilla colombiana FARC y que sus fotos aparecen en la Embajada de los EE.UU., en Bogotá.

Citando como fuentes a funcionarios diplomáticos, los miembros de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia supuestamente secuestraron a Padrón.

Este hombre estaría privado junto a contratistas que trabajaban para California Microwave Systems, una división de Northrop Grumman, en Colombia, que viajaban a bordo de un avión que se estrelló en Colombia en el 2003, tras una misión de vigilancia.

En Panamá y Bogotá agregados del Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI) investigan este caso, dijeron fuentes a la agencia noticiosa norteamericana, que se negaron a ser nombrados debido a la sensibilidad del asunto.

Agregan además que la Embajada de Estados Unidos en Panamá ha estado en contacto con la familia de Padrón.

Autoridades norteamericanas han dicho que los dos hombres que están siendo buscados por los investigadores panameños por esta privación podrían ser miembros de las FARC o intermediarios de estos.

El viernes pasado, presuntos guerrilleros colombianos incursionaron en el selvático de Jaqué, en la provincia de Darién, para liberar a seis de sus compañeros detenidos por unidades de la Policía de Fronteras.

Fuentes policiales del área confirmaron que cuando las unidades de frontera llevaban a los insurgentes a la estación policial, por una de las trochas fueron rodeados por más de 200 guerrilleros que le exigieron liberar a los guerrilleros. Incluso, indicaron que los insurgentes hicieron disparos al aire para ahuyentar con rapidez a las unidades.

By sloopskipper on May 1, 2008, 15:43 in Politics & the war.

usher127 says on May 1, 2008, 16:54:

At last... someone worth kidnapping... horaay

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on May 1, 2008, 21:46:

Sounds like a good yarn to spin out if you're the common thugs holding the guy for ransom.

I'll be VERY surprised if the FARC actually had any part of this. They've got their hands full in Colombia and the last thing they need is Panama suddenly turning a harsh eye toward their adventures in Darien.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lampltr says on May 2, 2008, 16:58:

Hollywood, there was a major arms & drug bust just SE of the city in one of the fairly nice housing areas. Enough automatics, grenades, much cash and the like to arm about 20+ Gorillas...Along with many armed robberies and home invasions taking place, new kidnapping (s), Drugs, arms, cash and the like, could be a very likely possibility. Is very easy moving in and out of Panama by boat, however this has been going on for quite some time (years). Snoop, I have a foto of this major bust if you desire to post....I will try but my time is very limited.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on May 2, 2008, 17:28:

lampltr, also from many private airstrips, but that might soon change with the new radar that, I think, the U.S. offered:

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/us-weighs-plans-to-fortify-panam...

But that post probably be interesting, if you have the time.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on May 2, 2008, 17:41:

lampltr, I don't disagree with you that there are all sorts of shenanigans going on in Panama. There always has been. Which is why, I think, the FARC would be loath to bring down the hammer of local law enforcement scrutiny by doing a high-profile kidnapping in Panama. It's the classic "don't shit where you eat" scenario.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on May 2, 2008, 17:46:

But. Hollywood, it appears that they got some crooked Panamanian National Police to do the dirty work, for 500 BUCKS! THEY are in jail, BTW.

However, I think "more will be revealed".

Updated:

AND, several FARC attacked a National Police patrol boat on the Caribbean off the coast of The Darien (borders Choco) a few weeks ago. Six of them are in Panamanian prison now. (NOT a nice place to be, from what I have read).

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/high-seas-shootout-smn-vs-farc/

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lampltr says on May 4, 2008, 17:34:

Hollywood, you are correct bro...but as the old gringo saying goes, ignorance is a bliss jeje. These guys just arn't too smart I guess unless someone led the police to them, which I am believing considering the loot they seized. Sloop, will check out the link, am curious if the US is still on target with a base being built in the Darien, chao guys. ADDED: Sloop...reading that link you passed, gives a little light but this may again play into the hands of CENTCOM and solidifying a base out there. Would be multi-purpose, a foothold back into the country, Curtail smuggling movements through the gap, Better security, and to build a highway linking both countries. Personally I would have to say the US desires to have a presence since they are getting booted everywhere. When I was there in 2005, I heard about this army base from a US official there, but had not found any further info. There recently I drove around the old Howard, was very surprised to see many US military still there in the housing, hmm.

0 funny, 0 helpful.