Torreón has been aflutter with rumors about the disappearance of Cuban American hostage negotiator Felix Batista for a couple of weeks now. He was taken from outside a restaurant in Saltillo a day after having given a talk here, and no one really has a clue why. He's not rich, and it would seem to be an odd way to send a message to the authorities. A reporter for the local paper here told me that no ransom has been demanded. The kidnapping also stirs up the US government, which isn't in any criminal group's interest. The
Post today has an
article that does a good job illustrating the confusion surrounding the kidnappers' motives.
It also includes the following fantastic quote, from an unnamed man who sounds a lot like a typical rich dude in Torreón:
"He gave practical advice. To keep calm. Not to offer too much to the kidnappers. Not because you don't have the money, you understand me? You have the money. But you don't want the kidnappers to think they can hold you forever," he recalled Batista saying.
Just in case there is any confusion: he's got the money.
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