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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release March 6, 1999

MURDER OF AMERICANS BY COLOMBIAN REBELS

We are outraged by the murders of three United States citizens -- Ingrid Washinawatok, Lahe'ena'e Gay, and Terence Freitas -- whose bodies were found in Venezuela, near the border with Colombia. They were in Colombia on a mission of friendship, working with the indigenous U'wa people. We have strong indications they were kidnapped and murdered by members of the Colombian rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Force of Colombia, or FARC. We demand that the FARC accept responsibility for these crimes and immediately surrender those who committed them.

We will work with President Pastrana to apprehend the offenders, and gather the relevant evidence so indictments can be made and the perpetrators can be prosecuted. We will not rest until those who have committed these crimes have been brought to justice.

We offer our deepest sympathies to the victims' families.