wfn.org | Colombian Adventist Taken Hostage

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

May 1, 1999
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schäffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Schweiz

Colombian Adventist Taken Hostage

Bucaramanga, Colombia (APD) Seventh-day Adventist Abner 
Duarte was among the 46 passengers of an Avianca plane 
taken hostage by hijackers in Colombia on April 12.

Duarte is the president of the national gas corporation 
Ecogas and was on the flight leaving Bucaramanga for the 
capital Bogota when hijackers forced the plane to divert 
to a remote airstrip in Vijagual, 220 miles north of 
Bogota. On April 18 a rebel group claimed responsibility 
for the action. Nine hostages have been released to date.

Bernardo Rodriguez, president of the Adventist Church in 
Colombia confirmed that Duarte was among the hostages 
but had no additional information regarding his safety 
or whereabouts.

"Abner Duarte is a member of our church in Sotomayor, 
Bucaramanga, and is very active with the young people 
there," said Rodriguez. "He is also a good witness 
for the Church among government and business leaders. 
Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family 
at this difficult time."

"Our hearts go out to all involved," said Mario Veloso, 
associate secretary at the Seventh-day Adventist Church 
World Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. 
"We are concerned for the situation and pray for a 
speedy and safe conclusion to this matter and that 
Mr. Duarte, along with all the other hostages, may be 
returned home soon."

Duarte, 36, by training a petroleum engineer, is 
married to Sandra, with a one-year-old daughter 
Valentina. Seventh-day Adventists in Colombia number 
more than 150,000 baptized believers.