Colombian military successfully carries out rescue mission; Betancourt, three U.S. defense contractors, and 11 others freed from captivity by FARCOn July 2 2008, French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, along with three United States defense contractors -- Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell -- and 11 Colombian security officers, were rescued by the Colombian military after several years in captivity. All of the rescued hostages had been held by the Colombian rebel group, known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC. The rescue took place in the southern province of Guaviare and military coordinators said that all of the released hostages were released were in good shape. Colombian media reported that the rescue mission had been set in motion several weeks prior. Reports stated that intelligence agents had infiltrated the FARC ranks and managed to convince the local commander in charge of the hostages of fictitious plans in the offing. As such, military personnel masquerading as members of a non-governmental organization were able to carry out a ruse and get the hostages onto a helicopter. Once airborne, they subdued the FARC leader who accompanied the hostages, announced that the helicopter was under the control of the Colombian military, and explained that the captives were now free. Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos explained, "The helicopters, which in reality were from the army, picked up the hostages in Guaviare and flew them to freedom." Colombian authorities were especially pleased that the mission was executed successfully and without one shot being fired. Betancourt, as a politician with dual citizenship, had been the highest profile hostage; her apparent poor health contributed to the fact that the French government was actively seeking her release. Indeed, a previous French medical evacuation mission ended unsuccessfully some months earlier. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had also been active in negotiations to free hostages held by FARC. To that end, two hostages -- Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez -- were released by FARC in early 2008. However, zealous efforts by the Colombian government to squash FARC has, at times, led to tensions with its neighbors, Venezuela and Ecuador over violations of sovereign borders. In the afternoon of July 2, 2008, only moments after disembarking from the aircraft that carried her from captivity, Betancourt made a public address, thanking the authorities for their assistance in carrying out "a miracle." She said, "God, this is a miracle... There is no historical precedent for such a perfect operation." Betancourt also urged that those who had died in captivity be remembered and called for the possibility of peace. Betancourt's children reacted joyfully to the news of their mother's release and were said to be flying from France to Colombia to be reunited with their mother. At 11:19 pm CST, a United States military aircraft touched down on American soil at Lackland Airforce Base carrying the three former hostages, Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell. All three were then transported to Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio in Texas for treatment. Media reports noted that they were likely to be reunited with their families in the following days, although they were also expected to go through medical treatment and possible reintegration counselling. Editor's Note: -- The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is the oldest, largest and most organized insurgent group in Colombia. It has widespread operations throughout Colombia and occasionally on the borders of neighboring countries such as Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela and Brazil. A leftist military organization seeking political power and economic reform, FARC receives support from all segments of the population, but mostly at the rural level. FARC relies primarily on kidnapping high-profile people for ransom money and overseeing drug operations as a means of income. FARC is only one of a number of left-wing rebels and right-wing paramilitaries, which have been in conflict with the Colombian authorities for decades. The July 2, 2008 rescue of former presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt and three United States defense contractors meant that FARC had lost its most high profile hostages and indicated possible fractures in its operations, perhaps partially due to the deaths of key leaders of the rebel group. Nevertheless, to date, hundreds of people remain in captivity at the hands of FARC. -- Denise Youngblood Coleman Ph.D. Houston, Texas July 2, 2008 *****************************************************************************
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