Family abandons abducted Mexican politician: Kidnappers
By IANSWednesday, September 15, 2010
Mexico City, Sep 15 (IANS/EFE) Kidnappers of a Mexican politician said his family has abandoned the former presidential candidate who has been kept hostage since May.
Several media outlets received a letter from the kidnappers, claiming that Fernandez de Cevallos’s “own friends don’t care what his fate is”.
Fernandez de Cevallos, who also served as president of the Senate, disappeared May 14 from his ranch near San Clemente in the central state of Queretaro. The politician’s vehicle was found outside the ranch’s garage, with traces of blood inside.
This was the third statement sent from an e-mail account belonging to a group calling itself Misteriosos Desaparecedores (Mysterious Disappearers), Milenio TV reported.
The federal Attorney General’s Office said May 22 that it was suspending its investigation in accordance with the wishes of the politician’s family.
The kidnappers said in their latest statement that many people wanted to see Fernandez de Cevallos “a prisoner or, better yet, dead”.
“Thanks to the personal and public career of ‘Boss Diego’, many things will continue to be said and perhaps all will fit in as lines of investigation, since his family abandoned him and his own friends don’t care what his fate is,” the statement, dated Sep 13, said.
Earlier, Fernandez de Cevallos urged his family to negotiate in earnest with his kidnappers.
“I can’t describe to you the hell your father is experiencing and I don’t know how much longer I can take it. So I ask you to make your best efforts as quickly as possible,” the captive said in the note, dated June 10 and addressed to his son, Diego.
Fernandez de Cevallos, a leading member of the ruling National Action Party, or PAN, was the party’s presidential candidate in the 1994 elections.
Earlier reports said that the kidnappers have been demanding $30 million - down from the initial amount of $50 million - and that the Fernandez de Cevallos family has sold several vehicles, vacation properties and other assets.
–IANS/EFE
