Reply #12: Colombia in second round of attempted hostage handover [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Colombia in second round of attempted hostage handover
13 hours ago

BOGOTA (AFP) — An airborne operation to pluck two hostages from their rebel captors deep in the Colombian jungle ground back to life Thursday, after a botched handover attempt collapsed ten days ago.

Two Venezuelan helicopters were to depart Venezuela at 1100 GMT bound for the small city of San Jose del Guaviare in southeastern Colombia, and from there travel into the jungle, top officials of both governments said.
(snip)

"That depends on the logistical organization of the humanitarian mission, on weather conditions and other factors," Yves Heller told AFP. "We will do it as quickly as possible."
(snip)

Confirming that Bogota had approved Chavez's new handover plan, Colombian peace commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said the two governments, which have had tense relations, were in close coordination this time around.

"There is a good spirit of collaboration between the two countries and we are now making progress on operational steps that will permit -- with the greatest speed --- the liberation" of the two women, Restrepo said Wednesday.
(snip)

A suspected FARC go-between sought protection from Colombian police in late December, saying the FARC was threatening to kill him if he did not return a boy they had given him in 2005, who was subsequently seized by social services on suspicion of child abuse.

The tip enabled Colombian authorities to track down the boy, and DNA tests conducted in Colombia and Spain using samples from Rojas' mother and brother have confirmed that the youngster is indeed her son.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gSH-vESUkQqdP1lcD-jSJRhz12sQ

(Interesting explanation on why it is the FARC didn't have access to the child. There's been almost nothing written whatsoever about this for Americans to study.)