Colombian FARC rebels Culik Five Contractors Oil

Bogota (AFP / Reuters) - Colombian FARC Rebels have kidnapped five local oil contractors near an oil field operated by the U.S., brought them to Venezuela with the army after them, as some officials, Saturday.

The men arrested were working for oil services company Tuboscope and Tecnioriente, added contracted by a local unit of U.S. company Occidental Petroleum, the oil fields near Caricare in the state of Arauca, detailed a local military commander.

The sixth worker tried to escape into the bush when the rebels rammed their vehicle as they approached a military helicopter.

Violence and kidnappings in the long war in the country has eased under President Alvaro Uribe, who has sent troops to retake areas controlled by rebels. However, it stressed the threat of kidnapping rebels still in the Andean country.

"They have kidnapped six workers from Tuboscope and Tecnioriente," said a military commander General Rafael Neira on local radio. "Kidnapper took them to rural areas ... the military has responded and helped one of his workers."

Arauca state Governor Luis Ataya said he believed the people were arrested for being blackmailed and he blamed the FARC.

FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, who had become a powerful rebel force, has been hit repeatedly until the weakest level in decades. Foreign investment, particularly in the field of petroleum and mining, are exploding as companies are attracted to Colombia.

The country is now number 4 oil producer Latin America, with production of more than 700,000 barrels per day.

Rebels often civilians arrested for being blackmailed, but they also hold 24 soldiers and poilsi for political leverage as part of the oldest guerrilla operations in Latin America's.

FARC, which has been weakened by the death of its commander and the defection, had turned to attack and run tactics, attacks and homemade landmines to disrupt the army. But still can merea major attack.

In December, a rebel commando unit have captured the governor of Caqueta state of his house, took him quickly to the forest, where they slit his throat and dumped his body.

The kidnapping of oil workers took place just days before the FARC planned to release the two soldiers, one of them had been detained for nearly 12 years in secret camps in the woods. Some helicopter crews Brazil and the Red Cross committee had been ready to take them.




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