WEEKLY SITUATION REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06706413
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 25
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: November 27, 2017
• Case Number: F-2017-00199
• Publication Date: March 23, 1976

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Weekly Situation Report
on
International Terrorism
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DO WSRIT 76-012
23 March 1976
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WEEKLY SITUATION REPORT
CONTENTS
23 March 1976
Articles:
Possible Involvement of Colombian Terrorists in the
Niehous Kidnapping (Page 1)
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ARTICLES
Possible Involvement of Colombian Terrorists in the Niehous
Kidnapping
There is a possibility that the 19th of April Movement
(M-19), a Colombian terrorist group composed of extreme
elements of the ANAPO, may have taken part in the 27 Febru-
ary abduction of William E. Niehous in Caracas, Venezuela.
Niehous was
kidnapped by members of the Bandera ROja and Punto Cero
(Point Zero), who formed an ad hoc group led by Carlos
Efrain Betancourt, a Bandera �Roja leader, and that this
group is convinced that Niehous is in some way involved with
American intelligence. On 15 March, the local Venezuelan
press carried reports that Betancourt had been expelled from
the Bandera Roja for his unauthorized participation in
Niehous' abduction. The Punto Cero is a small Venezuelan
group composed of individuals who were sent to Cuba for
training by the Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN)
in 1970. This group takes its name from the area in Cuba
where the membership was trained. Most of the group were
either killed or imprisoned in 1972 and 1973, and for the
last two years it has been relatively inactive.
Communications with the kidnappers have been sporadic
and have proceeded rather slowly. On St. Patrick's Day,
Mrs. Niehous made a public appeal asking the Archbishop of
Caracas to intercede to get a message to the kidnappers. On
18 March a package was found behind a Caracas church. The
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package contained notes in Spanish, written on two of
Niehous' calling cards, Which were signed by Niehous and
addressed to his wife and to the American ambassador. The
cards have been turned over to the police, who are analyzing
them. American observers on the scene feel that the notes
are genuine.
As it stands now, the kidnappers are sticking to their
original demand that their manifesto be published in the
press at the Owens-Illinois company's expense,. Thus far
they have not demanded a ransom. Owens-Illinois had pre-
viously maintained the position that they would not take
action on the kidnappers' demand until they had proof that
Niehous was alive. The situation has been further compli-
cated by the fact that President Perez will not permit the
publication of the manifesto in Venezuela under any circum-
stances. Thus the prospects for an early release of Niehous
remain dim.
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