Luis Francisco Cuéllar
Encyclopedia
Luis Francisco Cuéllar Carvajal (December 22, 1940 – December 22, 2009) was a Colombia
n politician, serving as Mayor of Morelia
, Governor of the Caquetá Department from 2008 to 2009, and Deputy Governor of Caqueta from 2000 to 2003. He is known for being kidnapped and murdered by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
, and for being kidnapped and held for ransom four times.
, Huila
, Colombia on December 22, 1940. Prior to his political career, he worked as a cattle rancher. He married Imelda Galindo de Cuéllar in 1968, and the couple stayed together until his death. Cuellar was a Roman Catholic.
of Caquetá from 2000 to 2003, and governor from January 1, 2008, until his murder on December 22, 2009. He also served as the Mayor of Morelia
from 1996 to 1998. In 1997, he related his experiences as a hostage and met relatives of hostages being held by FARC. He was a member in the Indigenous Social Alliance Movement
and the Colombian People's Party
. During his term as governor, he established the Cuellar Public Health Laboratory in Florencia
. He also ordered a variety internationally made sports facilities for Caqueta schools.
(FARC) between 1987 and 1999:
in 1995, and was kidnapped while in office. He was kidnapped near the county seat of Morelia, along with his wife, her sister Agnes, and his driver. They spent seven months in captivity before being released after a ransom was paid.
, on December 21, 2009. His home in Florencia
was raided by 8 to 10 gunmen, who killed a police guard and used explosives to blow open the front door of the building, wounding two other police guards. The gunmen then entered the building and seized Cuéllar. Colombian authorities began a large-scale manhunt, deploying 2,000 soldiers and police officers into the jungle highlands surrounding Florencia to search for him. President
Álvaro Uribe
offered 1 billion pesos
(approximately €
340,000, US$
490,000) to anyone providing information leading to his safe return. On December 22, 2009, his body was recovered by security forces near Florencia, after local villagers led troops to it. The burnt pickup truck used by the gunmen was discovered by police with nine explosive charges. Cuéllar's throat had been slit. Colombian authorities began an investigation into the murder, and offered 1 billion pesos for information leading to the killers.
Cuéllar had previously been kidnapped and held for ransom multiple times since 1987. The Cuéllar family claims to have been under threat prior to the kidnapping.
Although no group immediately claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, President Uribe blamed the FARC. The FARC later claimed responsibility, but claimed that they had not intended to execute him, but wanted to subject him to a "political trial" for what they claimed was corruption. President Uribe sharply criticized the FARC for these statements, and called them an attempt to justify Cuellar's murder. His wife, Imelda, stated that "He didn't deserve that. He was a very generous man; he loved to be with humble people", and added that she and her husband had spent 41 "wonderful" years together. Human rights organization Amnesty International
also condemned the murder. In January 2010, Henry Lopez Sarmiento, the FARC commander suspected of masterminding Cuellar's kidnapping, was detained by Colombian authorities, and was charged with Abduction and Murder.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n politician, serving as Mayor of Morelia
Morelia, Caquetá
Morelia is a town and municipality in Caquetá Department, Colombia.-External links:*...
, Governor of the Caquetá Department from 2008 to 2009, and Deputy Governor of Caqueta from 2000 to 2003. He is known for being kidnapped and murdered by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army is a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict, currently involved in drug dealing and crimes against the civilians..FARC-EP is a peasant army which...
, and for being kidnapped and held for ransom four times.
Biography
Cuellar was born in TimanaTimana
Timana is a town and municipality in the Huila Department, Colombia....
, Huila
Huila Department
Huila is one of the departments of Colombia. It is located in the southwest of the country, and its capital is Neiva.-Geography:The south of the department is located in the Colombian Massif...
, Colombia on December 22, 1940. Prior to his political career, he worked as a cattle rancher. He married Imelda Galindo de Cuéllar in 1968, and the couple stayed together until his death. Cuellar was a Roman Catholic.
Political career
Cuéllar served as deputy of the departmentDepartments of Colombia
Colombia is an unitary republic formed by thirty-two departments and a Capital District . Each department has a Governor and a Department Assembly , elected by popular vote for a four-year period. The governor cannot be re-elected in consecutive periods...
of Caquetá from 2000 to 2003, and governor from January 1, 2008, until his murder on December 22, 2009. He also served as the Mayor of Morelia
Morelia, Caquetá
Morelia is a town and municipality in Caquetá Department, Colombia.-External links:*...
from 1996 to 1998. In 1997, he related his experiences as a hostage and met relatives of hostages being held by FARC. He was a member in the Indigenous Social Alliance Movement
Indigenous Social Alliance Movement
The Indigenous Social Alliance Movement is a progressive indigenist party in Colombia. At the last legislative elections, 10 March 2002, the party won parliamentary representation, one of many smaller parties....
and the Colombian People's Party
Colombian People's Party
The Colombian People's Party is a political party in Colombia.At the last legislative elections, 10 March 2002 , the party won as one of the many small parties parliamentary representation....
. During his term as governor, he established the Cuellar Public Health Laboratory in Florencia
Florencia, Caquetá
Florencia is a municipality and capital city of the Department of Caquetá, Colombia. It is the most important city in southeast Colombia because of its population as well as its more than a hundred years of history....
. He also ordered a variety internationally made sports facilities for Caqueta schools.
Kidnappings
Cuellar was kidnapped and held for ransom four times by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of ColombiaRevolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army is a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict, currently involved in drug dealing and crimes against the civilians..FARC-EP is a peasant army which...
(FARC) between 1987 and 1999:
1987
Cuellar was first kidnapped in 1987, when FARC rebels came to his farm and waited for him at the gate. He was released after the ransom was paid.1990
In 1990, he was kidnapped along with his wife, but released after paying ransom. Two months later, his wife and brother, merchant Orlando Cuellar were kidnapped, but released days later.1995
Cuellar was elected Mayor of MoreliaMorelia, Caquetá
Morelia is a town and municipality in Caquetá Department, Colombia.-External links:*...
in 1995, and was kidnapped while in office. He was kidnapped near the county seat of Morelia, along with his wife, her sister Agnes, and his driver. They spent seven months in captivity before being released after a ransom was paid.
1999
Cuellar was kidnapped near a church in 1999, but was released after a ransom was again paid to the FARC.Death
Cuéllar was kidnapped,by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of ColombiaRevolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army is a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict, currently involved in drug dealing and crimes against the civilians..FARC-EP is a peasant army which...
, on December 21, 2009. His home in Florencia
Florencia, Caquetá
Florencia is a municipality and capital city of the Department of Caquetá, Colombia. It is the most important city in southeast Colombia because of its population as well as its more than a hundred years of history....
was raided by 8 to 10 gunmen, who killed a police guard and used explosives to blow open the front door of the building, wounding two other police guards. The gunmen then entered the building and seized Cuéllar. Colombian authorities began a large-scale manhunt, deploying 2,000 soldiers and police officers into the jungle highlands surrounding Florencia to search for him. President
President of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
Álvaro Uribe
Álvaro Uribe
Alvaro Uribe Vélez was the 58th President of Colombia, from 2002 to 2010. In August 2010 he was appointed Vice-chairman of the UN panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid....
offered 1 billion pesos
Colombian peso
The peso is the currency of Colombia. Its ISO 4217 code is COP and it is also informally abbreviated as COL$. However, the official peso symbol is $. As 20 July 2011, the exchange rate of the Colombian peso is 1750 Colombian pesos to 1 U.S. dollar.-History:The peso has been the currency of Colombia...
(approximately €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
340,000, US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
490,000) to anyone providing information leading to his safe return. On December 22, 2009, his body was recovered by security forces near Florencia, after local villagers led troops to it. The burnt pickup truck used by the gunmen was discovered by police with nine explosive charges. Cuéllar's throat had been slit. Colombian authorities began an investigation into the murder, and offered 1 billion pesos for information leading to the killers.
Cuéllar had previously been kidnapped and held for ransom multiple times since 1987. The Cuéllar family claims to have been under threat prior to the kidnapping.
Although no group immediately claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, President Uribe blamed the FARC. The FARC later claimed responsibility, but claimed that they had not intended to execute him, but wanted to subject him to a "political trial" for what they claimed was corruption. President Uribe sharply criticized the FARC for these statements, and called them an attempt to justify Cuellar's murder. His wife, Imelda, stated that "He didn't deserve that. He was a very generous man; he loved to be with humble people", and added that she and her husband had spent 41 "wonderful" years together. Human rights organization Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
also condemned the murder. In January 2010, Henry Lopez Sarmiento, the FARC commander suspected of masterminding Cuellar's kidnapping, was detained by Colombian authorities, and was charged with Abduction and Murder.