Colombia’s largest guerrilla group FARC demanded $3 million for the release of four kidnapped Chinese citizens.
The Chinese citizens were taken hostage on June 8 in the Colombian department of Caqueta. Among the kidnapped were three workers for the British oil company Emerald Energy and one translator.
The four employees were traveling by car in the town of San Vicente del Caguan when at least seven armed men blocked the car and took them hostage.
Colombia’s Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera confirmed on June 16 that the FARC was behind the kidnappings after two demobilized FARC guerrillas came forward with information.
In addition to the ransom, the FARC is demanding that the hostage negotiation take place in a Latin American country.
Emerald Energy has not yet affirmed whether it will pay the $3 million.
President Juan Manuel Santos warned in March that any multinational corporation that pays a ransom to a criminal group will be dismissed from Colombia.