Colombia Reports

Three U.S. military contractors held hostage by the FARC for more than five years are suing the guerrilla organization for the physical and mental pain they endured while in captivity, Tampa Bay Online reported Friday.

Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes and Marc Gonsalves were captured by the FARC on February 13, 2003 when their anti-narcotics surveillance plane made an emergency landing in the Colombian jungle after a mechanical failure.

They were part of the group famously liberated by the Colombian military on 2 July 2008 in "Operation Jaque" along with presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.

The American surviviors are seeking compensation for "past and future physical and mental pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, emotional distress, loss of five and a half years" of their lives.

Relatives of the pilot of the flight who was executed are also joining the law suit.

One of their captors, Heli 'Martin Sombra' Mejia Mendoza, has already been charged with the crimes of conspiracy and aggravated kidnapping for ransom.

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Comments (5)

Bluebird said:

	... I think that is a great idea. Get a judgement against them and start seizing their assets. That's how they brought down the KKK in the U.S. A few vicious lawers could destroy the FARC more quickly than the entire Colombian army!
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November 13, 2009
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Bluebird said:

	... I would recommend my ex wife's lawyer.......... he is as vicious as they come! He would tear the FARC to peices!!! LOL
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November 13, 2009
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doug van eps said:

	... where does farc have assets that can be sized?
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November 14, 2009 | url
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Bluebird said:

	... You can be sure that they have bank accounts all over the place and there are ways of finding them.
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November 15, 2009
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crispancho said:

... The KKk still exist , so this idea of suing the farc is a joke. They worked for the military industrial Complex who sprayed roundup on Colombia. Sounds like Vietnam and agent Orange all over again. They need to sue their employers, and the U.S State Department. As long as there is a demand for drugs Colombia will be there to supply the demand. FARC, AUC ELN CIA and all the drug lords there in Colombia are just suppling the demand. Good to see that one bluebird has been screwed by a lawyer!

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November 16, 2009
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