Canadian oil workers freed after being kidnapped by Colombian troops country, earlier, eastern, local

tiffiant

Canadian oil workers freed after being kidnapped by Colombian troops


BOGOTA - Colombian troops Tuesday freed all but one of 23 local oil contractors working for Canada's Talisman Energy after they were snatched a day earlier by FARC rebels in a rare mass kidnapping.


Troops on foot and in helicopters were pursuing the kidnappers in the remote eastern jungle region to free the last of the hostages, who were forced by gunman to leave their camp in Vichada province in the country's oil-rich east.


"We can confirm that 22 of the 23 are now freed," Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera told local Caracol Radio. "Only one remains in their hands in an area we hope to reach soon."


Latin America's No. 4 oil producer, Colombia is enjoying an investment boom in petroleum and mining as violence from its long war has subsided, but illegal armed groups remain a threat in remote areas where the state has yet to gain a strong grip.


Kidnappings are now rarer, but companies are still targeted for extortion and violence by armed groups. FARC rebels kidnapped five oil contractors last year, but troops rescued them four days later.

tiffiant

Talisman said most of the workers were members of local indigenous communities hired by a contractor to carry out seismic work in the area.


Officials did not give details on whether there was combat or the men were freed because of intense military pressure.


Once branded a failing state caught up in drug and rebel violence, Colombia has enjoyed a sharp decline in bombings, kidnappings and attacks since 2002 when the government began a U.S.-backed security crackdown.


Aided by billions in U.S. funds, Colombia troops now have better intelligence and the mobility to strike at FARC camps hidden deep in jungles. But rebels and illegal armed militias linked to cocaine trade still operate in remote areas.


The rebels last month freed six hostage troops and local politicians as a humanitarian gesture. But they are still holding around 15 police and soldiers in secret camps for political leverage.


Colombia's oil infrastructure has also recently been hit. Last month the Cano Limon-Covenas pipeline was attacked and earlier the Transandino oil line was halted for a few days by a suspected rebel bomb.


Foreign direct investment has expanded more than five-fold to around $10 billion as violence waned and, oil and mine companies moved into areas once considered off limits for exploration

tiffiant

Canada's Talisman Energy has operations in Peru, above, as well as Colombia