WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A Dutch woman and 17 members of a Colombian terrorist organization were indicted Tuesday in Washington on hostage-taking and weapons charges.
Tanja Anamary Nijmeijer, a Dutch national who moved to Colombia and joined the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as FARC, and the other FARC members were indicted on seven counts of terrorism and weapons charges for their participation in the hostage-taking of three U.S. citizens in Colombia, the Justice Department said.
The three former hostages -- Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell and Thomas Howes -- were held in the Colombian jungle by FARC members for more than five years until Colombian military forces rescued them July 2, 2008.
The indictment charges the defendants with one count of conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, three counts of hostage-taking, one count of using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and a designated foreign terrorist organization.
"We will not tire in our pursuit of all those responsible for this crime," Assistant U.S. Attorney General David Kris said.
"Today's indictment demonstrates our firm resolve to bring to justice every last FARC commander who played any part in this brutal act of terrorism," U.S. Attorney General for the District of Columbia Ronald Machen said.
The indictment Tuesday is the fifth such document issued in the District of Columbia against various FARC members involved in the kidnappings, the Justice Department said.
