A photograph of a dairy farmer trapped in a bomb collar has resurfaced on social media platform Reddit. The image shows 53-year-old Elvia Cortés Gil de Pachon with what was described as "an extremely sophisticated device with three detonation mechanisms" secured around her neck.
Details of the Incident
Armed assailants from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) invaded her home near Chiquinquira on May 15, 2000. They affixed the explosive collar with adhesive and left a recorded message demanding a ransom of approximately $7,500 (around £5,600, equivalent to nearly £11,000 today).
Attempts to Defuse the Device
Colombian army bomb disposal specialists worked for approximately six hours attempting to neutralise the device. The attempts were unsuccessful, and it exploded at about 1pm. Army Lieutenant Colonel Fabio Roa told reporters at the time that Elvia had been "practically decapitated" by the blast. Police bomb disposal technician Jairo Lopez also lost his life, and other officials were injured.
Political Aftermath
Colombian President Andres Pastrana called off scheduled peace negotiations with FARC representatives. "The men of violence have placed a necklace of dynamite ... around the hope of all Colombians," he said. "The FARC's attitude must change, Forty million Colombians who want peace are demanding that change. I demand this (rebel group) demonstrate ... its will for peace."
Armed forces chief Gen. Fernando Tapias later revealed that FARC rebels had fastened the "necklace" of PVC pipe packed with dynamite to compel Elvia's husband to pay a "war tax." An army spokesperson said Elvia had been targeted for the "atrocious experiment" after she stopped paying extortion money.
