Colombia: Update--Kidnapping of Spanish Tourists Involve Significant Ransom Demand

As a follow-up to my posting of May 22, concerning the kidnapping of two Spanish tourist in the Department of La Guajira (close to the Venezuelan-Colombian border), police now report that the abductors have demanded a “significant sum in euros.” 

Angel Sánchez Fernández, 49, and María Concepción Marlaska Sedano, 43, were abducted last Friday (May 17) in La Guajira, a Colombian province bordering Venezuela.

COMMENT: Even though many observers attribute the kidnapping to rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which admittedly is responsible for the majority of abductions-for-money in Colombia, at this point there is no confirmation as to who the kidnappers actually are. 

The kidnappers could also simply be common criminals, taking advantage of opportunity. 

Marlaska Sedano is related to Spanish National Court Judge Fernando Grande-Marlaska.

Generally speaking, the kidnapping of foreigners in Colombia often can bring in a ransom approaching six figures in dollars or euros, and in some cases, demands can approach seven figures.

Considering that the kidnapping of foreigners can occur almost anywhere in rural Colombia, most foreign tourists generally stay close to major cities and towns.

It is assumed in this case that the kidnap victims thought that they blended in well to the Colombian culture, although their Spanish accent would have been a dead giveaway that they were not Colombian. Hence, whoever kidnapped them had determined that they were high-value targets.

A factor that could easily complicate the rescue of the two Spaniards is if they were taken into Venezuela, in which case the Colombians would have to depend on Venezuelan cooperation, which is often unpredictable.

Mauritania: US Department of State Issues Updated Travel Warning, Effective May 21

The US Department of State warns US citizens of the risks of traveling to Mauritania, and urges those who travel to Mauritania to exercise extreme caution because of activities by terrorist groups in the region, including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). AQIM continues to demonstrate its intent and ability to conduct attacks against foreign nationals, including US citizens. 

The US Embassy in Nouakchott recommends against all non-essential travel to the border regions of Guidimagha, the Hodh El Charghi and Hodh El Gharbi regions of southeastern Mauritania, the eastern half of the Assaba region (east of Kiffa), the eastern half of the Tagant region (east of Tidjika), the eastern half of the Adrar region (east of Chinguetti), and the Zemmour region of northern Mauritania because of the security risk and the threat of kidnapping to Westerners by terrorist groups. 

As noted in the Department of State's Worldwide Caution, AQIM has been designated as a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union.  

As a result of Western involvement in counterterrorism efforts, AQIM has declared its intention to attack Western targets. AQIM attempts at retaliatory attacks against Western targets of opportunity cannot be discounted. AQIM-affiliated support systems for logistics and information remain present in Mauritania and maintain a capability to conduct attacks. This, coupled with the influx of tens of thousands of Malian refugees into Mauritania, presents additional safety and security concerns.  

AQIM and terrorists believed to be affiliated with AQIM have been operating in Mauritania since at least 2005. Actions include kidnapping and murder of Western tourists, aid workers, and Mauritanian soldiers, as well as attacks on foreign diplomatic missions in Mauritania. This culminated in the June 2009 attempted kidnapping and murder of a private US citizen in the capital city of Nouakchott.  

Since 2009, AQIM continues to threaten Westerners. A French citizen was kidnapped in southwest Mali, near the border with Mauritania, in November 2012. AQIM has also focused its actions on Mauritanian military installations and personnel. The Mauritanian government continues to maintain a strong stance against AQIM. In August 2010, a suicide bomber attacked a Mauritanian military barracks in Nema. In February 2011, Mauritanian security forces successfully prevented a car bombing in the capital city, Nouakchott, by intercepting and destroying a vehicle containing large quantities of explosives. In July 2011, AQIM attacked a military base in Bassiknou, near Nema, in southeastern Mauritania. In December 2011, AQIM abducted a Mauritanian gendarme from his post near the eastern border with Mali.

As a result of safety and security concerns, some NGOs, private aid organizations, and Peace Corps withdrew staff and/or temporarily suspended operations in Mauritania. Peace Corps officially closed its program in July 2011. Faith-based organizations operating in Mauritania, or individuals perceived to be proselytizing, may be particularly targeted.  

Travel by US Embassy staff members outside of Nouakchott requires advance approval from the US Embassy Regional Security Officer (RSO). Travel by US Embassy staff is subject to cancellation at any time. Travel to the eastern half of Mauritania occurs only with Mauritanian government escorts. 

US citizens should remain aware of their surroundings at all times and maintain good personal security practices, including always locking their homes and cars, varying routes and times of travel, and maintaining a low profile by not drawing attention to themselves. When going out, they should avoid being part of large, highly visible groups of Westerners, and refrain from sitting in areas that are easily visible from the street when in restaurants or cafes. US citizens should be particularly alert when frequenting locales associated with Westerners, including grocery stores, hotels, cultural centers, social and recreation clubs, beach areas, and restaurants. Additionally, US citizens should avoid demonstrations and highly publicized events/venues with no visible security presence. 

US citizens driving in Mauritania are reminded to heed warnings to stop at security checkpoints, and should be particularly vigilant when traveling by road outside of populated areas, even when traveling along main routes and highways. US citizens should not venture outside urban areas unless in a convoy and accompanied by an experienced guide, and even then only if equipped with sturdy vehicles and ample provisions. Driving after dark outside of urban areas is strongly discouraged. There have been reports of banditry and smuggling in the more remote parts of Mauritania. Note also that landmines remain a danger along the border with the Western Sahara. Travelers should cross borders only at designated border posts.

 

For the full text of the travel warning, see:

 

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5966

Singapore: US Parents of American Engineer, 31, Give Up on Singaporean Justice

According to The Daily Mail, Rick and Mary Todd, the parents of American software engineer Shane Todd, 31,  who was found hanged in his apartment in Singapore in June 24, 2012, said earlier today (May 22) they were withdrawing from the Singapore government's inquest into their son's death on the basis that they do not believe their son committed suicide, but rather was killed because of the sensitive nature of his work. 

Mr. Todd's girlfriend, Shirly Sarmiento, a nurse from the Philippines, found the American's body. Singaporean police continue to contend that Mr. Todd died from his own hand. 

The engineer was found hanging in his apartment after he had reportedly been unhappy at work and had written suicide notes before he died, according to authorities. 

Police found no signs of forced entry into the apartment and he had no visible signs of injury on his body except redness on his forearms and legs. 

Police did find links to suicide websites on his laptop and suicide letters written to Todd's family members and loved ones. 

Todd's girlfriend Shirly Sarmiento had earlier told the inquest that he suffered from depression and that he had mounting unhappiness with the unethical environment in which he was working. 

COMMENT: Rick and Mary Todd have said they consider the evidence presented by Singaporean police to be incorrect. 

Rick Todd said his son in early 2012 had expressed concerns to his parents that he was being asked to compromise US security, yet he said that Shane was not specific in his statement.  

Mary Todd also said the alleged suicide note was obviously fraudulent because it thanked the Institute of Microelectronics, the former employer he had grown to dislike. 

On Tuesday (May 21), a key witness in the ongoing inquest withdrew his initial claims that Todd was strangled. The state, meanwhile, introduced a witness who contradicts the parents' claim that their son was killed before June 23. 

On Wednesday (May 22), both Rick and Mary Todd issued a statement saying they will no longer participate in the inquest and will return to the US. 

The parents, who had been expected to testify at the inquest, also have said the crime scene at their son's apartment was compromised, with key computer evidence mishandled. Nevertheless, the FBI has supported Singapore police claims that a hard drive found at Todd's apartment was handled by Singapore authorities who were conducting a forensic investigation, and not by unknown persons. 

Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said the government regrets the family's decision to leave the inquiry. 

While Singapore authorities insist there was no evidence of foul play in Todd's death, the parents maintain he was murdered over his work researching semiconductor technology in a secretive project involving the Institute of Microelectronics and Chinese telecom giant, Huawei. 

If Shane's parents clearly believe that Singaporean forensic investigators erred in their conclusions, they should retain independent experts who can conduct another autopsy of Shane's remains and interview all sources on which the Singaporean government's conclusions are based on. 

Rick and Mary Todd seemingly do not possess any documentation, evidence or leads that would cause an independent expert to draw conclusions that would suggest that Shane Todd was murdered. 

As I have said so often in the past, investigating any suspicious death abroad is fraught with insurmountable challenges stemming from best-practices; cultural differences;  foreign language nuances; written policies, procedures and protocols; and differences in forensic investigative techniques, any one of which could skew the conclusions. 

It is our understanding that the Todds met with the US Ambassador to Singapore David Adelman during their visit to the city-state. Hopefully, they explored options available to the Todd family in terms of attempting to prove the couple's theory that their son was murdered and was not the victim of a suicide.

Colombia: Two Spanish Tourists in 40s Kidnapped in La Guajira

According to EFE, Spanish tourists Angel Sánchez Fernández, 49, and María Concepción Marlaska Sedano, 43, were abducted on Friday (May 17).

Sánchez Fernández and Marlaska Sedano were reportedly kidnapped in La Guajira, a Colombian province on the border with Venezuela.

COMMENT: Both kidnap victims are from Aviles, a city in the northern Spanish region of Asturias, and were in Colombia on vacation.

The kidnappers contacted the victims’ families over the weekend and demanded the payment of an undisclosed ransom.

Although the abductors claimed to belong to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Colombia's oldest and largest rebel group, given the location as to where the two were kidnapped (i.e., near the Venezuelan border), the kidnappers could have used the FARC label simply as a diversion.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo confirmed the tourists’ kidnapping and said the Foreign Ministry was “in contact” with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the victims’ families.

The Colombian National Police is coordinating its efforts with its Spanish counterpart and has deployed officers from a special anti-kidnapping unit to La Guajira.

It should be noted that the Department of La Guajira is by no means a "safe" area to be a tourist of any nationality, given the fact that many Colombian rebels, smugglers and thugs of all sorts use Venezuela as a refuge to escape from Colombian security forces. Conversely, criminals in Venezuela often seek temporary refuge in Colombia.

Unfortunately, foreigners kidnapped on either side of the Venezuelan-Colombian border rarely experience an abduction of short duration.

This report will be updated as new information becomes available.

Turkey: Update--Third Tourist Dies from Injuries Sustained in Hot-Air Balloon Collision, Crash

According to The Associated Press, Turkish officials report that another Brazilian tourist has died of injuries sustained after two hot-air balloons collided in mid air, with one crashing to the ground. This brings the fatalities to three, in addition to 21 injured.

One balloon collided with another in mid-air and crashed during a sightseeing tour of volcanic rock formations in Turkey's Cappadocia region on Monday (May 20).

COMMENT: Twenty-one other tourists from Brazil, Argentina and Spain and their Portuguese pilot were injured in the crash.

The accident was the second fatal one in Cappadocia since balloon tours began more than a decade ago. Turkey civil aviation agency has launched an inquiry into the accident.

I will reemphasize that foreign tourists should be exceptionally cautious in participating in air-borne adventure tourism in developing countries, as they may not have the same safety protocols normally found in developed nations.

Greece: Update--Assailant's Mother Who Attacked Russian Tourist,11, Contends Her Son is Autistic

As a follow-up to my posting of May 16, the mother of Dutch national Sirin Shriver, 20, Alexandra Schriver, said that her son was working at a five-star hotel on Crete when he attacked the Russian youth with a knife, stabbing him some 20 times, ostensibly for his laptop and mobile. She emphasized that her son is autistic and is subject to mental defects.

Ms. Schriver arrived on Crete to testify on her son's behalf. Her arrival was delayed by an air traffic controllers strike.

As previously reported, Greek physicians have reported that Nikita Onishchenko, who was visiting Crete with his parents, may soon be able to be medically evacuated back home.

 
The 20-year-old assailant, who has confessed to his crime, said he was planning to bury the boy's body after stabbing him multiple times with a knife.

COMMENT: The defendant has already appeared in court (May 20) and could face upwards of 20 years in prison, unless, of course, his condition is determined to be a mitigating circumstance.

As I said in my previous posting, violent people can be found in all nations, which is why parents traveling abroad with young children must be particularly vigilant, even in countries that may at first blush be viewed as low-risk. 

Sirin Shriver began working at the Laguna Hotel only a few days before the attack occurred. He has been charged with attempted murder, illegal possession and use of weapons, as well as theft. 

It is unknown as to why the defendant was permitted to work on Crete alone and without close supervision and monitoring, which could become a liability factor for his employer during his prosecution.

Hawaii: Update--Oregonian Tourist, 29, Found Dead in Honolulu

As a follow-up to my posting of May 20, authorities in Hawaii have found the body of Ivanice "Ivy" Harris, 29, a Portland-based woman who was visiting Hawaii with her boyfriend and a friend to celebrate her 29th birthday.

Harris was reported missing after she was last seen speaking with a man outside a bar in Waikiki at about 0215 hours on May 16.

Autopsy results for Ivanice "Ivy" Harris, 29, are still pending, the Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office said Tuesday ( May 21).

COMMENT: Ms. Harris' body was reportedly found on Monday (May 20). Police in Honolulu have made no statements.

We express our condolences and sympathies to Ms. Harris' family and hope that they find closure through the apprehension of her assailant.

This report will be updated as new information becomes available.