Kidnapping of Canadian highlights risk of mining in Colombia
Kidnapping of Canadian highlights risk of mining in Colombia
In an Interview with CBC News, AS/COA's Eric Farnsworth discusses the kidnapping of a Canadian businessman by Colombia's National Liberation Army, saying that while the incident will not "kill mining in Colombia by any stretch, it is a reminder that it can be dangerous."
Gernot Wober, vice-president of exploration for Canadian gold exploration firm Braeval Mining Corp., was released Tuesday after 221 days in captivity.
He had been held by a group of leftist rebels, the National Liberation Army, known by its Spanish acronym ELN, and his release came after months of intense negotiations involving his company, the government and religious leaders. The Colombian government said he must be released before ELN could enter into peace talks.
Eric Farnsworth, vice-president of the Council of the Americas, says ELN did gain leverage by getting Braeval to leave the country, but there is good news in that the group will participate in talks.
“I think in the immediate term it says the ELN is trying to find a way to negotiate with the government in a peace deal—that’s a good sign, but it also shows that [Colombia's] a difficult place to do business,” Farnsworth told CBC’s Lang & O’Leary Exchange.
