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Again from the Clayton Kidnap, Ransom, and Extortion Monitor:

Paraguay, 31 December 2007
A total of 10 kidnapping-for-ransom cases were reported in Paraguay during 2007. Nine of the
10 cases were reported between January and April, and unlike in previous years, most of the
cases took place in the interior of the country. A total of 17 people were kidnapped in the reported
cases. The highest profile cases involved the kidnapping of a Japanese industrialist and his
secretary, and a police officer and his girlfriend. The last reported incident took place on 18
October and involved a female victim who was released two days later. A total ransom amount
of US$680,000 and 25 million Guaranies was paid for all the cases combined. (ultimahora.com,
31 December 2007)

Colombia, 13 January 2008
Six Colombian tourists were kidnapped by armed gunman wearing the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC) uniform. According to a regional military commander, the six
abductees were a part of a group of 19 Colombian tourists taking a boat tour of the Atrato
River in Choco department. The group was surrounded by the guerrillas while their boat
was on shore. The official stated that the rebels separated out people who hailed from cities
of central Colombia, including a Norwegian professor and his Colombian biologist wife, an
engineering student, a teacher, a businessman and hotel owner, and took them into the forest.
(news.com.au, 14 January 2008)

Nepal, 17 December 2007
A chief executive officer of a paint company was kidnapped for ransom by unidentified gang
members in the Baneshwor area of Kathmandu. The kidnappers, who intercepted the victim’s
vehicle as he was driving home, forced both the businessman and his driver into their vehicle.
The driver was beaten and released shortly after the abduction. The kidnappers called the
victim’s family and demanded a ransom of Rs 50 million. Family members later stated that
the ransom demand was dropped to Rs 10 million and that the kidnappers spoke Gujarati
and Marathi, which are Indian provincial languages. Police officials investigating the case
suspect that the businessman was kidnapped by local criminals following the instructions
of an organized Indian criminal group, as the ransom calls originated from Mumbai, India.
(nepalnewsmobile.com, 19 December 2007)

India, 31 December 2007
Unidentified militants kidnapped an assistant engineer of the Manipur State Education
Department in Imphal. The militants reportedly abducted the official at gunpoint on 15 December
from a location near his office, but a First Information Report (FIR) was filed with the police
only a few days ago. Meanwhile, several social organizations released statements demanding
the immediate release of the official. A sit-in protest was also held by staff members of the
education department to protest the abduction and press for the victim’s immediate release.
(timesofindia.indiatimes.com, 31 December 2007)