Contras Release Member of U.S. Rights Group

A human rights organization said Thursday that U.S.-backed Contras have released one of its American members who had been kidnaped and held for nine days.

Spokesmen for Witness for Peace announced in Managua and Washington that Richard Boren, 30, of Elkin, N.C., was released unharmed Wednesday night in the village of Quilali, 145 miles north of the capital.

Eduardo Griffin, a Witness for Peace spokesman in Managua, said he spoke by telephone with Boren and “he told me he is very tired” and thinks he has a cold but is otherwise all right. Boren was reported to be on his way back to Managua by car.

Boren’s brother, Robert Boren, said in Elkin, N.C., that the family was told of the release Thursday morning in a telephone call from the State Department.

“Obviously, we’re really happy to hear that he’s all right,” he said.

Asked if the family would encourage Boren to leave Nicaragua, the brother said, “I don’t know about that. I think Richard should do what he thinks is right.” Boren has been in Nicaragua since November.

There was no immediate comment from Contra leaders on the release of Boren.

Contras kidnaped Boren and 11 Nicaraguans on March 1 after a raid on the town of Mancotal, in Jinotega province in which four people were killed, Witness for Peace said. Of the 11 Nicaraguans, several have reportedly escaped but it was not known how many remained captive.

Boren was the second American Witness for Peace member seized by the Contras. The first was Paul Fisher, who was abducted in October in central Chontales province and held for two weeks.

Witness for Peace, which also has an office in Durham, N.C., has been monitoring human rights abuses in Nicaragua for the past four years.